Re: [Callers] Public Dance, Ideas Wanted
Hi Jonathan, Thanks for taking a gig like this on! It can be challenging, but it's a great way to get the word out about dancing; which is vital to having dancers :-) Are you in the middle of the day? Or late afternoon into the evening? I ask, because I think that'll influence how many kids you get. It's a lot easier to do non-mixers if there are a bunch of kids (especially if they don't know each other). Many circle mixers can be run as circle keepers; so adjust as the crowd warrants (if I'm running a mixer as a keeper, I usually won't run it as long). Setting up a pattern of "longways dance, circle dance, other; longways, circle, other" can be a good plan to give the feeling of variety even when the moves are similar. "Others" include squares, scatter mixers, small sets, waltzes, etc. For a deep collection of resources, I'd like to point you towards New England Dance Masters: https://dancingmasters.com/ their 5 books have a bunch of stuff that would be useful for this. In terms of dance cards, here's a plethora; organized by type. I use La Bastringue, Kings and Queens, Road to Boston, Charge and Drag, Animal Parade, Scatter Shot, The Wheel, Green Mountain Ski Wedding, and Galopede the most. Set List: 9/10/2019 at Shared ONS dances #1 - La Bastringue by (Traditional) Circle Mixer/Improper/Beginner A1 --- (8) Circle: forward and back (8) Circle: forward and back A2 --- (8) Circle Left (8) Circle Right B1 --- (8) New Partner Do-si-do (8) Partner swing B2 --- (16) Partner Promenade #2 - Road to Boston (Heel Toe Polka) by (Traditional) Circle Mixer/Other/Beginner A1 --- (8) take 2 hands with P, inside foot "heel, toe, heel toe," 4 sashays to the middle (8) same thing, starting with outside foot, 4 sashays back out A2 --- (8) take 2 hands with P, inside foot "heel, toe, heel toe," 4 sashays to the middle (8) same thing, starting with outside foot, 4 sashays back out B1 --- (mixer) walk straight past current partner (M CCW, W CW) Swing new Partner B2 --- (16) Promenade Partner #3 - Cabot School Mixer by Ted Sannella Circle Mixer/Improper/Beginner A1 --- (8) Circle Right (8) all go forward and back A2 --- (8) Circle Left (6) Corner allemande Right 1x (6) Partner allemande Left 1x B1 --- (6) Corner Do-si-do (8) Corner swing (now new partner) B2 --- (16) Promenade with this new Partner #4 ----- Went and Did by Luke Donforth Circle Mixer/Improper/Beginner A1 --- (8) Circle Left (8) Circle Right A2 --- (8) all the Larks forward and back (8) all the ravens forward, turn and back facing current partner B1 --- (16) partner balance and swing, end facing around the oval (cw), Ravens on the inside B2 --- (8) promenade around the oval Ravens turn back (8) swing the next, who is your now your new partner #5 - Waiting in the Swings by Chris Page Circle Mixer/Improper/Easy A1 --- (8) forward and back (4) circle left (4) Larks roll person left to right (p2) A2 --- (4) circle left (4) Larks roll person left to right (p3) (8) swing new p4 (on lark’s l, not the one you just rolled) B1 --- (16) promenade counterclockwise (Larks on inside) B2 --- (3) Ravens turn over right shoulder (4) pass partner p3 by left (9) partner p2 swing #6 - Mash-Up Mixer by Chris Page Circle Mixer/Improper/Easy A1 --- (8) Balance and slide to the right (as in Rory O’More) (8) Balance and slide to the left (as in Rory O’More) A2 --- (16) Partner balance and swing B1 --- (16) Promenade around set ccw, lark’s inside B2 --- (8) ravens forward and back (8) Larks forward, turn alone, return to circular wave (left hand to old partner, right hand to new partner) #7 - Grand Right & Left Mixer by Chris Page Circle Mixer/Improper/Easy A1 --- (8) Forward and back (8) Corner See-Saw A2 --- (8) Corner allemande left 1 (Face away from corner, give right to current ptr to start the grand right and left.) (8) Grand right and left past four (P1R, P2L, P3R, P4L) B1 --- (4) New partner P5 right-hand balance (12) and swing B2 --- (16) promenade with partner ccw (Larks inside) [re-entry point if lost] #8 - Sashay the Donut by unknown Sicilian Circle/Other/Beginner A1 --- (8) Partner Do-si-do (8) Partner allemande Right A2 --- (8) Partner allemande Left (8) Partner two hand turn B1 --- Everyone make space (16) One couple sashays around the central corridor of the circle -Freight train variant, next couple immediately follows; etc. Get back to place and jump apart B2 --- #9 - The Wheel by Gene Hubert Circle Mixer/Other/Beginn
Re: [Callers] "Dixie Twirl" term
Hi Becky, Thanks for weighing in! We're glad to have you on the list, and I personally appreciate the cultural context you've provided. While some callers may continue to use the term Dixie, I think it benefits even them to have the insight into the phrases nuances. I hope you find the list-serv useful sounds like there are some viable options for you to avoid calling it a dixie twirl. Happy Dancing, Luke ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Riffing on "The Nice Combination"
Good suggestion. And thank you all for the other variants and ideas :-D On Sat, Aug 3, 2019 at 9:05 AM Gregory Frock wrote: > For title, might I suggest "The Dixie Combination"? The couple trading > figure is often called a Dixie Twirl, and there already exist "A New > Combination" and "The Nice Combination". > > On Fri, Aug 2, 2019 at 2:28 PM Luke Donforth via Callers < > callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > >> Hello all, >> >> I was programming for tonight, and looked at Gene Hubert's classic "The >> Nice Combination" (N B, Dwn 4, turn as cpls, C L 3/4, P S, Ld/robin >> chain, LHS); and wondered what the simplest variant that would flow well >> with a gents/larks chain instead of a ladies/robins chain. >> >> What I've come up with is below. Anyone got a prior on it? Anyone got a >> variant with a gents/larks chain they like more? >> >> The New Combination >> >> A1 --- >> (4,12) Neighbors balance and swing >> A2 --- >> (6) Down the hall four line >> (4) Pair on the right make an arch, gent/lark on the left lead through, >> lady/robin on the right walks to far side, inverting the line >> (8) Come back up the hall and bend the ends >> B1 --- >> (6) Circle left 3/4 >> (10) Partners swing >> B2 --- >> (8) Gents/Larks chain (pull by left, courtesy turn with neighbor) >> (8) Right-hand star 1x >> >> I'm planning on using Gene's original tonight in Belfast (and probably >> the vast majority of the time, it's a great dance); but I thought an >> accessible gents/larks chain would be nice. >> >> I appreciate hearing your thoughts. >> >> -- >> Luke Donforth >> luke.donfo...@gmail.com >> ___ >> List Name: Callers mailing list >> List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net >> Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ >> > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
[Callers] Riffing on "The Nice Combination"
Hello all, I was programming for tonight, and looked at Gene Hubert's classic "The Nice Combination" (N B, Dwn 4, turn as cpls, C L 3/4, P S, Ld/robin chain, LHS); and wondered what the simplest variant that would flow well with a gents/larks chain instead of a ladies/robins chain. What I've come up with is below. Anyone got a prior on it? Anyone got a variant with a gents/larks chain they like more? The New Combination A1 --- (4,12) Neighbors balance and swing A2 --- (6) Down the hall four line (4) Pair on the right make an arch, gent/lark on the left lead through, lady/robin on the right walks to far side, inverting the line (8) Come back up the hall and bend the ends B1 --- (6) Circle left 3/4 (10) Partners swing B2 --- (8) Gents/Larks chain (pull by left, courtesy turn with neighbor) (8) Right-hand star 1x I'm planning on using Gene's original tonight in Belfast (and probably the vast majority of the time, it's a great dance); but I thought an accessible gents/larks chain would be nice. I appreciate hearing your thoughts. -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
[Callers] Loss of a legend
Hello all, Just letting the community know that Ralph Sweet passed away last week: https://memorials.leetestevens.com/ralph-sweet/3877859/index.php I hope to keep dancing and calling for as long as he did. An inspiration. -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Looking for non-mixer dances for kids (age 4-10)
Thanks Kalia, I think I did write that back in 2014. I called it Circsplosion, and originally had a two hand turn one way, and then back the other way; but DSD and then turn seems nice too. Might have been independently created; but you can blame me for it ;-) Glad it's been useful for you. On Wed, May 15, 2019 at 11:46 PM Kalia Kliban via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > One resource that Luke didn't mention which I have found very useful is > Thomas Green's barn dance website: > https://barndances.org.uk/ > You can sort by formation, level of difficulty, dance name, etc. I've > gotten a lot of goodies here. > > A dance that I picked up a few years back (and thought was by Luke but > apparently it isn't) and have gotten a lot of use out of is Circle > Shuffle. I call it Middle Muddle, and now have no idea who wrote it. > Works well for adults too. > A1 (8) Partner Do-si-do >(8) Partner two hand turn > A2 (8) Circle left > (8) Circle right > B1 (8) Into middle/out >(8) Into middle/out > B2 Promenade through the middle of the circle to a new spot. > > If your group is on the large side, you may want to change it to > B1 Into the middle and back, then all promenade through the middle to > the other side (the chaos of which will extend all the way through B2). > If your group is a little better at sorting themselves out, then the > extra into the middle and back as written might fit just fine. > > On 5/15/2019 6:45 AM, Luke Donforth via Callers wrote: > > Hi Charles, > > > > I'm tweaking the subject line slightly to help the next person find this > > in the archive ;-) > > As Bree Kalb mentioned, Linda Leslie has a wonderful collection. > > <http://lindalesliecaller.contracorner.com/dances/very-easy-dances.html> > > > > There are also a lot of resources available at New England Dancing > Masters: > > https://dancingmasters.com/shop/ > > a lot of those books are geared at school programs, and I think would > > work well for you. > > > > *Other people's dances:* > > > > Heel Toe Polka: > > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46K4V6xmOww > > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yHDJSpy9H0 > > I hadn't seen it with the clapping version, but these were the top hits > > on YouTube. > > You could get rid of the "pass through" and make it go back the other > way. > > > > Les Saluts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nt31bYsU5BY (note: AAB tune) > > > > Kings & Queens (from the NEDM books, written by Peter Amidon) > > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmiKhGl59xM > ... > ___ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Looking for non-mixer dances for kids (age 4-10)
And the image didn't come through... Sorry, it's online at http://www.uvm.edu/~ldonfort/slalom.jpg On Wed, May 15, 2019 at 1:26 PM Luke Donforth wrote: > I got some off-list questions about Green Mountain Ski Wedding, and I > figured I'd answer them for everyone, since the description isn't > completely clear. > > Someone asked about the DSD in A1, but not in B1. You could put a long > lines there. This dance doesn't really stay square to the music. So while I > have a whole group oval in A1 with a DSD, B1 is just a whole group oval. > It's a very "squishy" dance. > > Someone asked why the A2 slalom is up the set rather than down: > It's up because the top couple is at the bottom at the beginning of A2. > The path they take moves through some number of couples, such as: > > [image: image.png] > (Please excuse the drawing in MS Paint, let me know if it doesn't come > through.) > > When working with young kids, I'll tell the couples standing on the sides > to pretend to be trees, and have the skiing couple dodge and weave through > them. > > > > Green Mountain Ski Wedding >> Longways/Proper/Beginner >> >> A1 --- >> Whole Group Oval Left until across from partner again >> Partner Do-si-do >> A2 --- >> Bottom (was top) couple slalom (weave) back and forth up the set (cutting >> through lines) >> B1 --- >> Whole group oval right until across from partner again >> B2 --- >> Partner allemande Left >> Partner allemande Right >> > > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Looking for non-mixer dances for kids (age 4-10)
I got some off-list questions about Green Mountain Ski Wedding, and I figured I'd answer them for everyone, since the description isn't completely clear. Someone asked about the DSD in A1, but not in B1. You could put a long lines there. This dance doesn't really stay square to the music. So while I have a whole group oval in A1 with a DSD, B1 is just a whole group oval. It's a very "squishy" dance. Someone asked why the A2 slalom is up the set rather than down: It's up because the top couple is at the bottom at the beginning of A2. The path they take moves through some number of couples, such as: [image: image.png] (Please excuse the drawing in MS Paint, let me know if it doesn't come through.) When working with young kids, I'll tell the couples standing on the sides to pretend to be trees, and have the skiing couple dodge and weave through them. Green Mountain Ski Wedding > Longways/Proper/Beginner > > A1 --- > Whole Group Oval Left until across from partner again > Partner Do-si-do > A2 --- > Bottom (was top) couple slalom (weave) back and forth up the set (cutting > through lines) > B1 --- > Whole group oval right until across from partner again > B2 --- > Partner allemande Left > Partner allemande Right > ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Looking for non-mixer dances for kids (age 4-10)
Hi Charles, I'm tweaking the subject line slightly to help the next person find this in the archive ;-) As Bree Kalb mentioned, Linda Leslie has a wonderful collection. <http://lindalesliecaller.contracorner.com/dances/very-easy-dances.html> There are also a lot of resources available at New England Dancing Masters: https://dancingmasters.com/shop/ a lot of those books are geared at school programs, and I think would work well for you. *Other people's dances:* Heel Toe Polka: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46K4V6xmOww https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yHDJSpy9H0 I hadn't seen it with the clapping version, but these were the top hits on YouTube. You could get rid of the "pass through" and make it go back the other way. Les Saluts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nt31bYsU5BY (note: AAB tune) Kings & Queens (from the NEDM books, written by Peter Amidon) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmiKhGl59xM *Dances I've composed for this contingent: * Charge and Drag by Luke Donforth Longways/Other/Beginner A1 --- (8) Long lines, forward and back (8) Partner Do-si-do A2 --- (16) Partner balance and swing (or two hand turn), end facing up the set and separate B1 --- (16) Top & Bottom couple make arches Top couple go down over left line; Bottom couple go up over right line B2 --- (8) bottom & top couples charge (sashay) the middle of the set, meet in the middle (8) couple below drag couple above to bottom of the set Animal Parade Longways/Other/Beginner A1 --- (8) Long lines, forward and back (8) Partner allemande Left A2 --- (8) Partner allemande Right (8) Partner two hand swing or DSD B1 --- “top” couple walk to bottom, miming the animal of their choice Come back to top B2 --- Top couple peels off to outside, everyone follows Top couple makes an arch at bottom, rest come though with partner Green Mountain Ski Wedding Longways/Proper/Beginner A1 --- Whole Group Oval Left until across from partner again Partner Do-si-do A2 --- Bottom (was top) couple slalom (weave) back and forth up the set (cutting through lines) B1 --- Whole group oval right until across from partner again B2 --- Partner allemande Left Partner allemande Right Pousset scatter (mix or keeper) Scatter/Beginner starts in groups of four, with a partner and a neighbor couple A1 --- (8) Right hand Star (8) Left hand Star A2 --- (8) Partner allemande Left 1x (8) Partner Do-si-do 1.5x end back to back B1 --- Dancers count out loud: un, du, two, and cry Pousset, butt-push your partner SCATTER: find a new partner and swing KEEPER: chase your partner around and swing B2 --- (16) Promenade around Find another couple On Wed, May 15, 2019 at 8:51 AM Charles Abell via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > I'm sure there is already a thread on this somewhere, but I'm wondering > what are your favorite dances for those in the 4-10 year old range. > Specifically, dances that are not mixers since many younger dancers prefer > to stay with a particular partner the whole time. I have a number of good > ones already (Alabama Gal, Haste to the Wedding, La Bastringue, etc), but > I'd like to expand my existing collection of dances geared towards "little > ones". > > Let 'em rip! > > > ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
[Callers] Contra dancing... on ICE!
I'd like to share this because I think it's really fun. Several months ago, I was approached by the coaches of a Theater on Ice team about helping put together a program for their 2018-19 Choreographic Challenge, which was to showcase cultural dance. Burlington's team, "On Thin Ice" wanted to do a contra dance on ice. There were various restrictions; style and historic elements that they wanted included, coverage of the ring, movement on the ice, etc. What they generated is not a contra dance, but does showcase several elements of a contra dance, and they do it on ice. You can check out their performance at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EzYx4XtxSs It was a learning experience for me, and a fun exercise in deconstructing and putting things back together with different constraints. For instance, they needed percussive elements in the choreography; I'd originally tried to sell them on petronellas; but they all balked at the turning over "outside edges" on skates (a harder feat). It's the first time I've every had folks dance to recorded calls, but they wanted them to add to the feeling of a contra (and I won't be travelling with them to nationals in Alabama this June). As a side not, for historical reasons relating to how their program would be judged, I used the term gypsy instead of my preference of an alternative. I still think they do a wonderful job of bringing contra dance to a different corner of the world. When I went to my first contra dance, I'd never have guessed where it would take me. Here's to more fun memories and interesting experiences in this community and others. -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Calling for the visually impaired
(Technical note, I Mac's response, but not Helle's original post?) I don't have extensive experience calling for visually impaired dancers. I have occasionally had an experienced blind dancer on the floor, but never a sizable percentage. But this is conjecture on my part; please trust your own judgement. It sounds like you're calling for a bunch of folks who don't regularly dance? In which case, I'd recommend (as with most one-off gigs), not focusing on 'duple improper contras' and just get folks moving to music. Something as simple as a snake dance may be a good kick-off. It's not overly simplifying for them, that's often a dance that gets used at community dances. It may be worth talking to the sound person ahead of time to see if a clear "head of the hall" can be established sonicly. Some gigs will put up more than one row of speakers or such to blanket the sound, but giving an audio clue about direction may be useful. If you're shooting for hands-four contras, I wonder if some of the pass through progressions of simple contra dances could be re-worked to have a roll-away instead? For instance, A1: long lines neighbor swing, end facing down the hall A2 Down four in line, turn as couples, come back B1 Circle left three places, partner swing B2 Circle left three places, balance the ring, gents roll neighbor lady away with a half sashay As two-swing contras go, that's a relatively simple. Everyone is always holding on to at least one other person. But you've still got changes of direction and knowing your orientation when you end the swing. But even that is more complicated than I would run for most community dances when most people aren't regular dancers. Even if you have one "seeing" partner in each pair, if you're not separating sets out by "this set has seeing gents role; that set has seeing ladies role" then if you do a neighbor swing, you'll end up with couples that don't have a "seeing" person. Good luck! And please do let us know how it goes, and what you figure out. On Sun, Apr 14, 2019 at 4:21 PM Mac Mckeever via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > For several years we had a wonderful lady dance with us who was totally > blind (could not even tell light or dark)- here are a few things I learned > from her > > She always danced in a line next to a wall - the reflections off the wall > gave her as good a sense of direction as the rest of us. > > Use dances where you stay connected to other dancers. With her experience > she did well on dosido and hey - but down the outside alone was not > possible. > > You will have a problem any time dancers need to make new connections - > like ladies chain, allemand, etc - someone has to be able to find the > impaired dancer's hand. > > She would not dance squares - too much uncertainty and dancers who are > lost made it impossible for her to recover(in a contra you get past it > quickly so only one time thru is challenging). > > As I said - this dancer was totally blind (but so good that those who did > not know her often did not figure it out). She also clapped at times when > not connected to hear what was around her. > > It sounds like your dancers will have various degrees of impairment, so > some of this may not be as important. > > Hope this helps some - while challenging - this should be very rewarding > and fun. > > Mac McKeever > St Louis > > On Sunday, April 14, 2019, 2:53:33 PM CDT, Helle Hill via Callers < > callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > > I work with the visually impaired and have been asked to call an evening > of dances for an outing. I know the basics of working with the visually > impaired but does anyone have any suggestions for dances, how to handle the > directional aspect, or any other ideas to make it a successful experience. > I hope that each visually impaired dancer will have a "seeing" partner. > > Thank you so much in advance. > > Helle > ___ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > ___ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Fwd: Caller Enquiry
For those who like to pass on names of callers, feel free to point people to the caller directory at http://tinyurl.com/hnb72wv which lets people sort by area. On Thu, Apr 11, 2019 at 8:33 AM Rich Goss via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > I got this inquiry.Anyone interested contact Pamela directly. > > Rich > > Begin forwarded message: > > *From:* Pamela Thomas > *Date:* April 10, 2019 at 10:15:51 PM EDT > *To:* r...@richgoss.com > *Subject:* *Caller Enquiry* > > Hi Rich, I am looking for a caller for a square dance on Saturday, June > 15. The dance is a community celebration and will likely be held in Red > Hook, Brooklyn. > > Might I enquire as to whether you are available and or interested in > calling the dance? Appreciate your consideration to do so! > > Kind wishes, > > Pamela Thomas > Brooklyn > > ___ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Does this exist? (Rory O'Moore > Partner Balance and Swing)
Hi Maia, Not sure if you've already run this one (I'm behind on e-mails). Personally, I would caution that getting dancers out of the habit of Rorying to the right first might be hard. I have in my box a similar dance, called Wildabeasts (that I wrote in 2017), that replaces your A2 with a (8) Raven's Chain across (4) Circle RIGHT 1/2, pass through (4) Pass through to an Ocean Wave That sets you up with your partner in your right hand, instead of your left hand. I will say, that while I wrote it and it's in my box, I've never actually called it (along with about 150 other compositions). As for dances I have actually called. There's a variation of Donna Hunt's "This Could be the Start of Something" http://donnahuntcaller.com/dancesByDonna.html that starts with the Down the Hall, and has the ravens slide all the way to their partner for a balance and swing instead of ravens allemande->partner swing. Erik Hoffman's "Missing Duck" has an A2 Rory, and a B2 P B, as does Fidgety Feet/Fickle Finger of Fate by Mark Richardson/Don Lennartson. None of those three have a neighbor swing though. For that, I'd turn to Bill Olson's "Dancing With Amy" Becket-CW A1 --- (8) Circle Left 3/4 (8) Neighbor swing A2 --- (8) left diagonal Ladies’ chain across to your shadow (8) left hand star (to a long wavy line with your partner) B1 --- (8) Balance and slide to the right (as in Rory O’More) (8) Balance and slide to the right (as in Rory O’More) B2 --- (16) Partner balance and swing On Thu, Mar 28, 2019 at 11:14 PM Maia McCormick via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > I wanted a closer with a Rory O'Moore and a partner balance and swing. > This is what I came up with. Does this (or a variant thereof) already exist? > > *Wave Goodbye* (becket L) > A1: (on the L diagonal) give and take N (to lark's side) > N swing > A2: ravens chain (to P) > ravens alle. R 1 1/2 to short waves (LH to N, ravens by R) > B1: bal. L and R, slide L (short waves, RH to N, larks by L) > bal. R and L, slide R, ravens sliding extra to pass each other > B2: P b > ___ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] How would you teach this? What would you call it?
Alan, I agree that dolphin poussette is an apt description for what's going on; and concur that it probably wouldn't help all the dancers (and less so in Contra than in English, I think). The star bursts as envisioned below definitely have a dolphin hey poussette feel, with the two couples curving around each other. Here's another triplet with a star burst. Cabot Starburst Triplet Formation: Triplet A1 --- (1s improper, 2s and 3s proper) (16) 1s & 2s Neighbor balance and swing (optional: 3s with partner) End with 1s in the middle of the group of 3 A2 --- (8) Lines of 3, forward and back (8) 1s & 3s Left hand Star B1 --- (8) 1s & 2s Right hand Star (8) 1s & 2s starburst; ladies lead out and to the right (1s & 2s swap); 3s come up through the middle to the top (now 3-1-2) B2 --- (16) Partner gyre and swing New 1s face down, 2s and 3s face up I spent an hour tonight rocking a baby to sleep; so there's another contra with the figure; that gets rid of the star 3/4 that the last improper formation had. Star Burst Insomnia Formation: Becket-CCW A1 --- (6) Circle Left 3/4 (10) Swing neighbor A2 --- (8) Long lines, forward and back (8) Left Hands across star B1 --- (8) Star Burst, gents lead out and curve left, ladies lead in (8) With new neighbors, Right Hands across star B2 --- (8) Women allemande right 1-1/2 (8) Partner swing As a side note, about a decade ago, I wrote in to shared weight asking about ladies allemanding before a swing; which hand works better? (And started a long tradition of finding out someone else had already written the dance in question.) This dance could go either way, depending on if you started with a left or right hand star (switches who leads out, and the direction of progression) The thousand or so dances I have in Callers Companion are not exhaustive, and reflect my own proclivities in collection and composition; but the stats come out as 40 dances: ladies allemande right->swing 14 dances: ladies allemande left->swing For comparison, on the gents side, I have 121 dances: gents allemande left->swing 2 dances: gents allemande right->swing (I'm not counting the allemande to balance or gyre and swings, I'm just looking at when they two happen in the same phrase) So while not as strongly biased as the gents left->swing; the general consensus seems to be that if the ladies are going to allemande into a swing, it's probably better by the right hand. Thank you again to Shared Weight for being a resource for all these years (both the organizers and the contributors). I'll refrain from posting any more star burst dances until I actually get to call one for dancers ;-) ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] How would you teach this? What would you call it?
Here's a crack at putting the star burst in a duple improper choreography. Stellar Star Burst Contra/Improper A1 --- (16) Neighbor gyre and swing A2 --- (8) Larks/Gents allemande Left 1-1/2 (8) Partner swing B1 --- (8) Long lines, forward and back (8) Left hand Star 3/4 B2 --- (8) Star Burst: ravens/ladies lead out, curve left; larks/gents lead back in (single progression) (8) with new neighbors Right hand Star 1x I'm not positive on the timing of B1 & B2. There are a couple of places to adjust it. This assumes giving folks a little extra time for the star burst, with a left hand star 3/4x that probably won't take the full 8 counts. If A2 were circle left 3/4 & partner swing. Then B1 becomes long lines forward and back with a left hand star 1 & 1/4; which would compress the starburst into ~6. You could also make it take more time with a double progression (a wider out, loop, and in; although it might be hard to keep track of). The gyre and swing at the A1 is pretty forgiving. I don't know how different the star burst would feel from a poussette; the two are very similar; and the above sequence could be rendered: A1 --- (16) Neighbor gyre and swing A2 --- (8) Larks allemande Left 1-1/2 (8) Partner swing B1 --- (8) Long lines, forward and back (8) Circle Right 3/4 B2 --- (8) Poussette (larks start push) to progress (8) With next neighbors Circle Left 1X I think I'd rather dance the first one than the second; but I'm not sure it's worth the teaching time. On Thu, Mar 7, 2019 at 5:52 PM Angela DeCarlis wrote: > I would probably get everyone into their final positions first before > teaching the move, so's that everyone knows where they'll end up. > > After that the language would look something like, "Star Right all the way > around. With your partner and without hands, slide out and away from the > center of the set in the direction that feels comfortable moving out of > that star. Ones move up through the center. Twos and Threes, slide back > into the set into the positions we previewed earlier." > > It would be slightly easier to teach if it weren't proper! Then you could > specify who's leading whom for those slides. > > I like this move and would like to see a version of it in a duple improper > choreography, please! Sans the folks moving through the center, > unfortunately. > > Angela > > > On Thu, Mar 7, 2019, 5:15 PM QuiAnn2 via Callers < > callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > >> If it isn’t already a defined move it should most definitely be called a >> “star burst”!! >> >> Jacqui Grennan >> >> On Mar 7, 2019, at 1:30 PM, Luke Donforth via Callers < >> callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: >> >> Hi All, >> >> I'm playing around with choreographing triplets, and I've got a sequence >> that I think would flow well; but I'm not sure how to teach it short of a >> demo. >> >> The idea is that couples 2 & 3 do a star. Out of that star, they move >> out, up, and back in; leaving space in the middle for couple 1 to move to >> the bottom. >> >> I put together an animation of it: >> https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/292197780/ >> >> Is that already a defined move? What would you call it? How would you >> teach it? >> >> Thanks for your thoughts! >> >> -- >> Luke Donforth >> luke.donfo...@gmail.com >> ___ >> List Name: Callers mailing list >> List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net >> Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ >> >> >> ___ >> List Name: Callers mailing list >> List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net >> Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ >> > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Who’s in the middle?
Do you specifically want folks in the middle of short line? Or would a long line at the sides work as well? Erik Hoffman's Missing Duck sets up a long lines Rory O'More with a partner allemande. If folks over or under allemande that, then the other person is facing in and starts the hey. It all resolves with the partner balance and swing on the other side Other partner Rory O'More dances would probably behave similarly, although it might not be as smooth to set up the swap as allemande +/- an extra 1/2. Missing Duck by Erik Hoffman Contra/Becket-CW A1 --- Slide Left to new couple (8) Circle Left 1X (8) Partner allemande Right 1-1/2 to long wavy line (w face in) A2 --- (8) Balance and slide to the right (as in Rory O’More) (8) Balance and slide to the left (as in Rory O’More) B1 --- (16) Hey, ravens passing left shoulders B2 --- (16) Partner balance and swing On Fri, Mar 8, 2019 at 2:25 PM Bob Isaacs via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Hi Alex and All: > > This may or not be what you're asking for, but the following role-free > contra was written where any dancer can be at any position in the wave. I > learned in writing this that it was too difficult for me to include a > neighbor swing, keep it role-free, and have all stay with their partner - > Bob > > *Make No Assumptions* Becket-L, role-free > > > A1. 8 Long lines forward and back > > 8 Circle L ¾ and pass through > > > A2. 8 N2 dosido 1¼ to wave/4 > (1) > > 4,4 Balance, N2 allemande R > > > B1. 16Hey (CL, PR, OL, N2R) > > > B2. 4 Centers pass L > > 12Partner swing > > > Written on April 11, 2014, and first called on April 23, 2014 at > Princeton, NJ. Written at the suggestion of Paul Sawyer of Massachusetts, > who was interested in role-free dances. > > > (1) – With centers (C) taking L hands in the center and outsides (O) > taking R hands on the side. > > > > -- > *From:* Callers on behalf of > Alexandra Deis-Lauby via Callers > *Sent:* Friday, March 8, 2019 10:27 AM > *To:* call...@sharedweight.net > *Subject:* [Callers] Who’s in the middle? > > Anyone have a simple wave dance where it doesn’t matter which role is in > the middle of the wave? > > Kind of like Bob Isaacs’ double your fun but easier. > > Thanks! > > Alex > > > Sent from my iPhone > ___ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > ___ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] How would you teach this? What would you call it?
Thank you all, for your thoughts and discussion, and I do like the name star burst. As I'd envisioned it, the path on the floor is very much like a poussette, but the dancers wouldn't be holding hands. It's almost like the tandem turn in a dolphin hey; but with motion up and down the hall. I think of zig-zag when there's lateral movement relative to the direction the dancers are looking, which this doesn't have either. So yeah, it's a blender-mix of a bunch of different stuff. I'd be curious to hear more from the square dance callers on the list about the Tag the Line analogy; although I'm unlikely to call it a half-tag. The triplet that inspired it will unfortunately probably not see much use. I'll let folks know if I ever successfully (or unsuccessfully) run it. I'll see if I can work a star burst into another choreography. Star Burst Triplet by: Luke Donforth Proper triplet, 123->231 A1 --- (8) Lines of three, forward and back (8) Partner Do-si-do A2 --- 2s: (8) Lady round two and the gent cut through around 1s above (8) Gent round two and the lady cut through around 3s below B1 --- (8) 1s & 2s Left hand Star at the top (8) 2s & 3s Right hand Star at the bottom B2 --- (6) Star-burst: 1s walk to bottom while 2s and 3s make space and move up (12) partner swing, end facing up Notes: The B2 star-burst: 2s and 3s make room by continuing their direction out of the star. 2s curve up and left, slotting into the 1s position 3s curve up and right, slotting into the 2s position animation of it: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/292197780/ Thanks again all for kicking it around with me. On Thu, Mar 7, 2019 at 4:30 PM Luke Donforth wrote: > Hi All, > > I'm playing around with choreographing triplets, and I've got a sequence > that I think would flow well; but I'm not sure how to teach it short of a > demo. > > The idea is that couples 2 & 3 do a star. Out of that star, they move out, > up, and back in; leaving space in the middle for couple 1 to move to the > bottom. > > I put together an animation of it: > https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/292197780/ > > Is that already a defined move? What would you call it? How would you > teach it? > > Thanks for your thoughts! > > -- > Luke Donforth > luke.donfo...@gmail.com > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
[Callers] How would you teach this? What would you call it?
Hi All, I'm playing around with choreographing triplets, and I've got a sequence that I think would flow well; but I'm not sure how to teach it short of a demo. The idea is that couples 2 & 3 do a star. Out of that star, they move out, up, and back in; leaving space in the middle for couple 1 to move to the bottom. I put together an animation of it: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/292197780/ Is that already a defined move? What would you call it? How would you teach it? Thanks for your thoughts! -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Fan Favorite PROPER Contras?
I'll second Indigo Silk. Not familiar with the second one. I wrote one a while ago that does use the ubiquitous 1/2 figure 8. But also borrows from things like David Kaynor's Open Doors Simply Left in Wisconsin by Luke Donforth Contra/Proper/Int A1 --- PROPER (8) Circle Right 3/4 As couple with same role neighbor (8) See-Saw opposite role couple A2 --- (16) Partner balance and swing B1 --- (8) Ladies Chain across (8) Ones half Figure eight up the set B2 --- (8) Long lines, forward and back (8) Circle Left 1X turn and face new neighbors On Mon, Mar 4, 2019 at 5:13 PM QuiAnn2 via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > I have enjoyed Indigo Silk by Lynn Ackerson and High Voltage Gypsy by John > Combs as taught by Nils Fredland. And you could always do Rory O’ More! :-) > > > > On Mar 4, 2019, at 1:50 PM, Don Veino via Callers < > callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > > > Hi, > > > > I've been assigned the opening slot at this year's 2019 New England Folk > Festival (NEFFA) for my session: > > > > "Keepin' It Proper Contras - It's not all about improper contras! Dances > from times past to the present set in a proper form." > > > > S... what proper dances have you found to be particular favorites > with dancers and amenable in a large hall "some experience" (non-advanced > dancer) setting? I'd appreciate your suggestions. > > > > Thanks, > > Don > > ___ > > List Name: Callers mailing list > > List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > > ___ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] New(?) dance, transitions?
Thanks for the feedback, and for giving it a shot! I'll look into teasing out those transitions and possibly putting them in separate dances. I'm not a huge fan of chain->swing; although the gyre there would make it more forgiving. B2 could be "ladies chain->left hand star 1x" or "circle left 3 places, balance, pass through". Both of those are pretty common transitions for B2. A slightly more unusual sequence for B2 that shares the work a bit more would be gents chain across (pull by left), gents start 1/2 hey by left shoulder. I think that would require an extra large loop at the end of the hey to flow into the gyre. Could just be a balance at the A1 though. Not sure how I'd feel about two different half heys (one by rights in the middle, one by lefts) in a dance that's already got unusual things going on. But thank you again all for kicking it around with me. On Tue, Mar 5, 2019 at 1:46 AM QuiAnn2 wrote: > Hi, Luke (and others)! > > Jeremy Korr called this on Saturday night and I danced it as a Lady/Raven > with a partner who was not a switcher so I can comment on it as a Lady > dancer but not from the Gents/Larks perspective. > > I generally liked the dance. The flow was good and it was nice to have > different types of transitions. The promenade=>see saw=>1/2 was a very fun > series. From the time that Jeremy described that series to me during the > break until the time that he called it in the 2nd half, I was very much > looking forward to trying it out, and it was great! The A1 N Rt Sh Round to > a swing worked well coming out of the ladies’ allemande because we had to > walk a couple of steps to get to our next N. It was good to have fuzzy > timing there rather than a B, otherwise we would have had to take big > steps or run a bit. > > Some areas for improvement are that it felt to me like the ladies were > doing a lot of the work with the DSD and the allemande, which are both > unassisted figures where you’re fighting against rotational pull as opposed > to a chain which is all forward movement with an assist from the courtesy > turn. I couldn’t switch roles to test it but a N lady (who knew this was a > test dance) independently said to me “the ladies are doing a lot of work”. > Also, both times the ladies approach each other (in the A2 and the B2), > they are effectively coming out of a swing (if we can agree that LLF is > neutral) and walking towards each other with the left shoulder leading so > you had to think “Is this the DSD? Or is this the left allemande?" > > Just brainstorming here but maybe replace the ladies allem with a ladies > chain in the B2? I know this takes away from the “new transitions” idea > that you had but I think the “gem” of this dance is the A2 & B1 and the > rest is gravy to support it. > > Jacqui Grennan > > > On Mar 1, 2019, at 7:50 AM, Gregory Frock via Callers < > callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > Hi Luke, > > I think this is a great accessible dance. Flow is fine, and I actually > feel that getting too much "rightward" muscle memory is not a good thing. > Symmetry is better for our bodies in the long run. So FWIW, thumbs up for > me. And I will try it out at one of my next two gigs 3/8 or 3/13. > > Regards, > > Greg > > On Fri, Mar 1, 2019 at 10:00 AM Luke Donforth via Callers < > callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > >> Hi all, >> >> I was thinking about standard transitions; and how similar flows could >> possibly be created while still adding variation to our dance diet. >> >> Chain-> (1x or 1/2) hey -> balance and swing works well; but gyre & swing >> doesn't work well there, because you've set up left shoulder at the end of >> the hey. >> >> allemande left -> (1x or 1/2) hey -> (gyre &) swing works reasonably, >> because you've set up the other shoulder in the hey. >> >> What about coming into the hey from a Sea-Saw? For instance: >> >> Contra/Improper >> >> A1 --- >> (16) Neighbor gyre and swing >> A2 --- >> (8) Promenade across the Set >> (8) Ladies Sea-Saw 1.5x >> B1 --- >> (8) 1/2 Hey, ladies passing partner right shoulders >> (8) Partner swing >> B2 --- >> (8) Long lines, forward and back >> (8) Ladies allemande Left 1-1/2 >> >> I think that flows well, but I don't have dancers to play with at the >> moment. If anyone more used to dancing the traditional ladies roll wants to >> talk about muscle memory and flow, I'd appreciate it. Would the sea saw and >> left allemande just be too outside the realm of familiar to be fun? >> >> Assuming this is a new composition that
[Callers] New(?) dance, transitions?
Hi all, I was thinking about standard transitions; and how similar flows could possibly be created while still adding variation to our dance diet. Chain-> (1x or 1/2) hey -> balance and swing works well; but gyre & swing doesn't work well there, because you've set up left shoulder at the end of the hey. allemande left -> (1x or 1/2) hey -> (gyre &) swing works reasonably, because you've set up the other shoulder in the hey. What about coming into the hey from a Sea-Saw? For instance: Contra/Improper A1 --- (16) Neighbor gyre and swing A2 --- (8) Promenade across the Set (8) Ladies Sea-Saw 1.5x B1 --- (8) 1/2 Hey, ladies passing partner right shoulders (8) Partner swing B2 --- (8) Long lines, forward and back (8) Ladies allemande Left 1-1/2 I think that flows well, but I don't have dancers to play with at the moment. If anyone more used to dancing the traditional ladies roll wants to talk about muscle memory and flow, I'd appreciate it. Would the sea saw and left allemande just be too outside the realm of familiar to be fun? Assuming this is a new composition that works, I'll call it Sinister Ravens. Thanks for your thoughts. -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Transgressions
In addition to Pong, the grid contra I've tried at two dance weekends, there's also some six face six dances I wrote; only "two out of three ain't bad" has actually been field tested. I've had it succeed and be enjoyed, I've also had it degenerate into a circle mixer. http://www.madrobincallers.org/2014/02/26/6-facing-6-contra-dances/ On Fri, Oct 12, 2018, 7:20 AM Bill Baritompa wrote: > Hi Seth, > > Ages ago you mentioned your dance Transgressions on SW and I made > some snapshots of it. > > I checked callers box and notice that the link to the snapshots > in the caller's notes of > http://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/dance.php?id=12040 > is no longer valid as picasaweb is dead. > > I've moved the snap shots here: > https://photos.app.goo.gl/uxB2Qh4Ya7K31cBX7 > so you can send an update to Chris to fix the callers box listing. > > I've also added a few more snapshots of the paths and neighbors met. > > Luke Donforth wrote a very interesting grid contra which he called Pong. > It has both progression and transgression which changes during the dance. > > The paths of couples are diagonal but bounce off the boundary of the grid, > thus solving the problem of some couples not moving very much or at all. > However this was at the expense of have 'changing states' that dancers had > to be > aware of. > > https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/msg10581.html > http://www.madrobincallers.org/2017/09/19/pong-a-grid-contra/ > > I had corresponded quite a bit about it. He actually tried the dance at > one point. > > I've attached some comments about it and this is video about the math > https://youtu.be/S_qCbQIAFbQ > > Cheers, Bill > > > > > ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Barn dances for teens
Hi Rick, On the "longways dances" front, I've written a couple that I use regularly, and few that I wrote, but seem too challenging for the regular longways crowds of weddings and fall festivals. Possibly these would suit your teens. If you do give them a try, please let me know how they go and what you think. Longways I've used a fair bit: *Charge and Drag* Luke Donforth Type: Longways Formation: Other Level: Beginner A1 --- (8) Long lines, forward and back (8) Partner Do-si-do A2 --- (16) Partner balance and swing (or two hand turn), end facing up the set and separate B1 --- (16) Top & Bottom couple make arches Top couple go down over left line; Bottom couple go up over right line B2 --- (8) bottom & top couples charge (sashay) the middle of the set, meet in the middle (8) couple below drag couple above to bottom of the set Notes: In B1, both couples are going over the line that’s on their left as they face the set. It’s the caller’s left for the folks at the top, and the callers right for the folks on the bottom *Green Mountain Ski Wedding* by Luke Donforth Longways/Proper/Beginner (this almost never stays square to the tune) A1 --- Whole Group Oval Left until across from partner again Partner Do-si-do A2 --- Bottom (was top) couple slalom (weave) back and forth up the set B1 --- Whole group oval right until across from partner again B2 --- Partner allemande Left Partner allemande Right *Revive the High Five* by Luke Donforth Longways/Proper A1 --- (4) Long lines slide left (4) long lines slide right 8) Partner allemande Left 1x A2 --- (4) Long lines slide right (4) long lines slide left (8) Partner allemande Right 1x B1 --- (8) Partner Do-si-do (8) Partner swing B2 --- (16) Shuffle the set (Promenade randomly around the room, then come back to a different place to reform the long set; if you have more than one set, they can set jump) More challenging longways dances (I've tried these at house-parties with experienced dancers, but not really in the field): *The Fountain* Type: Longways Progression 1,2,3,4,5 -> 2,3,4,5,1 Top couple makes an arch and goes over the other two lines The rest move up, and when the reach the top, they make an arch and go down over the rest of the line When the bottom couple reaches the top, they separate (peel the banana style) and lead their line down the outside (no hands). Everyone except the original top couple (now at the bottom) follows. (note, leading to the bottom, not coming back up through) The couple at the bottom swings, and as other folks get back to line; they can swing their partner. Long lines forward and back (optional: Allemande your partner Other hand Allemande your partner ) *Long Corners* Type: Longways Progression: 1 2 3 4 5 => 5 1 2 3 4 top in left line trade with bottom in right line, giving a high five with the left hand in the middle then next trade and high five, and the next, until both lines have swapped and you're across from partner again the pair at the top of the line (was bottom couple) stays put and swings each other around, while two lines go around the mountain - giving your partner a high five with your right when you pass head of each line leads back down to bottom of their original side of the set and stays there. Everyone else follows in their line DSD partner straight across long lines forward and back Notes: go around the mountain is a cross trail through: up, over, and back down *Mirror Match* Longways/Other Progression: 1 2 3 4 5 => 2 3 4 5 1 Head couple goes down the hall One of the head couple comes back up the hall, interacting with three people on the way (DSD, allemande, swing, etc). Head person picks the people, they pick the move Long lines, forward and back Partner Do-si-do Other head person comes up the hall, and has to interact with the partner of the ones their partner picked, and do the same move. IF the set agrees that the head couple matched, they can walk down the middle, ELSE the set takes hands with partner, and the head couple separates and goes down outside (optional: Allemande your partner Other hand Allemande your partner ) Have fun! On Wed, Sep 19, 2018 at 4:55 PM Rick Mohr via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > I call a small monthly dance for teenagers, a blast and interesting in > many ways. > > We always do a few barn dances -- great fun, and a nice break from > worrying about progressing the wrong way and ending swings on the wrong > side. But the kids are smart and game, so most of the family dances in my > box are too easy. > > Here are some favorites. Have other good ones to add? > > Bottoms Up - https://www.barndances.org.uk/detail.php?Title=Bottoms_Up > Country Bumpkin - > https://www.barndances.org.uk/detail.php?Title=Country_Bumpkin > Falling Masonry - http://www.ceilidhcalli
[Callers] Becket in a Basket
Following up on Rick's request for dances for a monthly group of teenagers, I was trying to put a basket swing in a becket dance; and I'd appreciate folks thoughts and suggestions on flow and timing. Basket swings are not something I'd run in a regular dance, but this sounds like the same group of teens getting together regularly, and I was intrigued on what you might be able to do in a class where all the students know each other. Couple of options: Contra/Becket-CCW A1 Long lines yearn to the RIGHT Left Hands Across Star A2 Right Hands Across Star Gents Do Si Do 1x B1 Ladies Two Hand turn 1x Gents take two hands above ladies, lift over heads and behind back of ladies ladies lift hands over and behind backs of gents Basket Swing (crosses over into B2) B2 Basket swing continues, on home side, partner swing This seems a little odd to me in that it breaks up the two stars into different musical phrases, whereas often (in beginner dances) those occupy once section of the tune together. It could be that you make it a long lines yearn left, and then make the stars right and left, and the gents sea saw; not sure it's worth it. Alternatively, make it only one star, get the basket swing nominally contained to B1, and leave all of B2 for partner swing; for a clearer split with the tune. Contra/Becket-CCW A1 Long lines yearn to the LEFT Right Hands Across Star A2 Gents Do Si Do 1x Ladies Two Hand turn 1x B1 Gents take two hands above ladies, lift over heads and behind back of ladies ladies lift hands over and behind backs of gents Basket Swing B2 on home side, partner swing That's probably ~24+ beats of cw swinging between the basket->partner, which seems excessive. Trying to cut that a little shorter, possibly moving the basket and partner swing to just B2, leads to something like B1 (4) Gents take two hands, balance, (4) Gents lift hands over ladies heads and behind backs (4) Ladies take two hands, balance (4) Ladies lift hands over gents heads and behind backs B2 (8) Basket Swing (8) On home side with partner, swing Where you could put the A1 of either of the previous versions on top of it. Anyway, if you have thoughts or experiences, I'd like to hear them. Happy Dancing. -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Easy contras for teens
There are a couple x2 contras, where it's basically the same dance twice through. Those tend to have two swings, so may be less pertinent, but (the similar) "Will you marry me" by Seth Tepher, or "Midwestern Folklore" by Oracle Johnson may be pertinent. Staying in the Becket theme is one I wrote for the wedding of friends called Frog Stars; and for the couples that insist on having "contra!" at their weddings instead of just circle and longways dances, I tweaked Family Contra to Wedding Becket (proper/improper/whatever, role doesn't matter). Becket can be really friendly for beginners, and if you use circles L, Stars R, that fills up to half the dance; use a yearn progression (easy double progression, so no one is out in a short even set), and fill it out with whatever else you want them to do. For instance "Pluck It" These don't have chase figures or basket swing, etc. Most of my "around two, fall through" dances I'd consider more complex. If you've got time to work with them it could certainly happen though. But I'll toss the scatter mixer Basket of Frogs out there. (Written in honor of Fiddling Frog dance weekend in S. California) It's got a lot of swing time; so I'll propose a becket version that keeps your partner, but I'll start a separate thread for that one because I want to get the hive-minds opinion on timing. ~~Beginner Beckets~~ Will You Marry Me by Seth Tepfer Contra/Becket-CW/Beginner A1 --- (8) Circle Left 3/4 ooze into a short wavy line with Women in the middle with L (4) Balance the short Wavy line (4) Ladies allemande Left 1 A2 --- (16) Neighbor balance and swing B1 --- (8) Circle Left 3/4 ooze into a short wavy line with Women in the middle with L (4) Balance the short Wavy line (4) Ladies allemande Left 1 B2 --- (16) Partner balance and swing slide left Midwestern Folklore by Oracle Johnson Contra/Becket-CW/Beginner A1 --- (8) Circle Left 3/4 (8) Neighbor Do-si-do A2 --- (16) Neighbor balance and swing B1 --- (8) Circle Left 3/4 (8) Partner Do-si-do B2 --- (16) Partner balance and swing slide left to next Frog Stars by Luke Donforth Contra/Becket-CW/Beginner-Easy A1 --- (8) Left hand Star (8) Right hand Star A2 --- (8) Partner Do-si-do (8) Partner swing B1 --- (8) Circle Left 3/4 (8) Neighbor swing B2 --- (8) Ladies Chain across (8) Long lines, yearn to the left Wedding Becket by Luke Donforth Contra/Becket-CW/Dbl-Prog/Beginner A1 --- (4) Balance Ring (4) Balance Ring (8) Circle Left 1X A2 --- (4) Balance Ring (4) Balance Ring (8) Circle Right 1X B1 --- (8) Neighbor Do-si-do, straight across (8) Partner Do-si-do B2 --- (8) Two hand turn with partner (8) Long lines, back and forward, shift left, looking at new new couple Pluck It by Luke Donforth Contra/Becket-CW/Beginner A1 --- (8) Circle Left (8) Circle Right A2 --- (8) Right hand Star (8) Left hand Star B1 --- (8) Partner Do-si-do (8) Partner swing B2 --- (8) Neighbor Do-si-do (8) Long lines, yearn left ~~~Basket Dances~~~ Basket of Frogs by Luke Donforth Scatter Mixer/Improper A1 --- (16) Promenade around the room, find another couple A2 --- (8) Gents Do-si-do 1x (8) Ladies two-hand turn 1.5x, keep holding hands B1 --- (2) Gents take two hands over women’s, lift over heads and behind back of women (2) Ladies lift hands over and behind backs of men (12) Basket Swing B2 --- (16) Neighbor swing New partner On Wed, Sep 19, 2018 at 4:55 PM Rick Mohr via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > I call a small monthly dance for teenagers, a blast and interesting in > many ways. > > My easiest “regular evening” contras are a good challenge for the group, > so I’m looking for some varied easy contras to lead up to those. (Also > interesting barn dances -- asking about those in a separate thread.) > > The teens are fine with swings but aren’t hooked on them like most contra > dancers. So contras with no partner swing, no neighbor swing, or no swings > at all are just fine, and good for variety. And our lines are fairly short, > so unequal dances are OK. > > Here are some favorites. Have other good ones to add? The group is all > about having fun, so it’s fine to have chases, basket swings, sashaying, > and other goofiness. > > Family Contra (Sherry Nevins) > A1: Bal ring x2, circle R > A2: Bal ring x2, circle L > B1: Dosido P, dosido N > B2: Dosido as couples 1.5 > > Andy White's (Amy Cann) > A1: Circle L, dosido P > A2: As couples dosido Ns, 2 hand turn N > B1: Clap both/R/both/L with P, same with N; repeat all > B2: 2s arch, 1s duck; 1s arch, 2s duck BACK; 2s arch, 1s duck > > Jefferson & Liberty > A1: Circle L/R > A2: Star R/L > B1: 1s balance &
Re: [Callers] Luke's Tunnel
Thanks for sharing John. This seems a hair's breadth away from being a square dance. Is there a reason to run it as a "contra" rather than a "square"? Or do you find the distinction doesn't really matter? On Thu, Aug 23, 2018 at 8:19 AM John Sweeney via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > I took Luke’s Double Contra and, since I often work with small groups, > made it into a Four Couple Dance: > > > > Luke’s Tunnel (by John Sweeney/Luke Donforth) > > Four Couples; Longways; Becket > > > > Start in Side Lines; Number the positions as in a Square Dance > > A1: Neighbour Balance & Box the Gnat - keep right hand high to make a > Tunnel > >Couple at #1s position go through the Tunnel > >Other End Couple go through the Tunnel > > A2: Ends (went through Tunnel together) & Sides (i.e NOT the person you > are holding hands with): Dosido & Swing – finish in a Square > > B1: Into the Middle, on the way back Men Roll Current Partner Away with a > Half Sashay > > Men Star Right to Partner > > B2: Partner Gypsy & Swing – finish in Head Lines > > > > Next time those in #2s position go through first and you finish in Side > Lines - four times through lets everyone be the first Tunneler > > > > Happy dancing, > >John > > > > John Sweeney, Dancer, England j...@modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 > 940 574 > > http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive Events > & DVDs > > http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent > > > > ___ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] New contra dance database
Congratulations on getting the database up! And thank you for the massive effort you've put into it! I'd write a dance to celebrate it, but I think you probably don't want a dance with over ten thousand figures... heck at this point it'd be understandable if you wanted us to stop writing dances entirely ;-) Thanks again! On Tue, Aug 21, 2018 at 11:37 PM Chris Page via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Michael Dyck and I have done a thing: > > http://www.ibiblio.org/contradance/thecallersbox/ > > This (mostly) contra dance database 12,000 dances: > 5,000 dances with viewable instructions > 4,000 more dances with links to instructions > > Current search options include author, title, formation, and figures. > You can search the figures of dances even when we don't have > permission to show the figures. > > > This will always be a work in progress, but hopefully it's good enough to > use. > > Have fun! > > (and a lot of questions should be answerable by the FAQ on that site.) > > -Chris Page and Michael Dyck > > p.s. > This has been (and continues to be) a long-term project. Michael and I > started formally working on this back in April of 2015, but I started > building my database back in November of 2010. > ___ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] dances for Halloween
Well, there's what the kids go for: "All You Can Eat"; possibly of something tasty for the season, like "Apples and Chocolate". If you're not on the food part, there's "Black Cat Mixer", "Dancing In My Bones", or "Witches Star". Having danced at themed dancing where the theme overran programmatic considerations; I'd say a holiday theme can be well used like a spice: just a little to keep it interesting. But if one of these fits you program, enjoy. All You Can Eat by Ted Crane Contra/Improper/Easy A1 --- (8) Gypsy Neighbor R 1x (8) Women allemande Left 1-1/2 A2 --- (16) Partner gypsy R and swing B1 --- (8) Circle Left 3/4 (8) Neighbor swing B2 --- (8) Left hand Star 1x (8) SAME Neighbor Gypsy Left 1x Apples and Chocolate by Sue Rosen Contra/Improper A1 --- (8) Balance and slide to the right (as in Rory O’More) (8) Balance and slide to the left (as in Rory O’More) A2 --- (4) Neighbor allemande Right 1/2 (4) Men allemande Left 1/2 (8) Partner swing B1 --- (8) Circle Left 1X (8) Women's Chain to neighbor B2 --- (8) 1/2 Hey, women passing right shoulders (8) New Neighbor Do-si-do to a wave of 4 (N R, W L) Black Cat Mixer by Martha Wild Circle Mixer/Improper A1 --- (8) All forward and back (8) All forward and back A2 --- (8) Circle Left (8) Single file Prom Back to Right Women tap Man in front of them on shoulder, who turns (new P) B1 --- (8) Partner Do-si-do (8) Partner swing B2 --- (16) Promenade in line of direction, form a circle Witch’s Star by Linda Leslie Contra/Improper A1 --- (8) Right Hands across star (8) Left Hands across star back, gents drop out A2 --- (8) Women allemande Left 1-1/2 (8) Partner swing B1 --- (8) Long lines, forward and back (8) Women's Chain across B2 --- (16) Hey, women passing right shoulders On Sun, Aug 19, 2018 at 3:33 PM Karin Neils via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Witches' Cauldron by Kirsten Koths is a favorite of mine - Becket Sicilian > Mixer - easy moves for the inclusion of beginners, and a very unusual > progression (see Notes at > <http://www.quiteapair.us/calling/acdol/dance/acd_184.html> > <http://www.quiteapair.us/calling/acdol/dance/acd_184.html>) to keep the > experienced dancers entertained. I do *not* recommend it if you have more > than 20% beginners on the floor.The tune *OLD GREY CAT*’s a VERY GOOD > MATCH in rhythm and mood. I've had fun introducing it with a witchy > chant: > > *Double, double, toil and trouble; fire burn, and cauldron bubble!* > > *Come and stir my pot with me. Bring a partner; come and see!* > > When we dance *Witches’ Cauldron*, we’ll be stirring the pot this way and > that; things will bubble up; there’ll be eddies and lumps. > Karin > > > > > On 8/19/2018 1:22 PM, Maia McCormick via Callers wrote: > > The ones that come to mind are: > - Wizard's Walk > - The Zombies of Sugar Hill > > Happy calling! > > On Fri, Aug 17, 2018 at 11:12 AM barbara153--- via Callers < > callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > >> Hi everyone! >> >> I will be calling a dance on Halloween and would like to know if anyone >> can share some Halloween themed dances with choreography if possible. >> >> I do have : >> Halloween Twist >> Chainsaw >> >> Thanks and keep on calling... >> Barbara G >> ___ >> List Name: Callers mailing list >> List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net >> Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ >> > > > ___ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > > > ___ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Demolition Derby, a 4 Face 4 of dubious do-ability?
The sense I have of the A2 bit is that you've combined a mad robin with a hey, right? I'd start with that as the description. It's just a hey passing the one you swung by right shoulder, but you're facing your partner in the other line of four as you go. And if it's not a hey, but in fact something a little different then a hey in terms of the switches, then I'd try to see if it would work as a mad robin hey... But then, I'm not actually sure what you mean by weave the ring in B1; so possibly I should get some more sleep after my own gigs. On Sat, Aug 18, 2018 at 3:01 PM Bob Green via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Well Don, you know you shouldn't be smoking that stuff... ))) > > Sugar Hill is next weekend. We should be able to wrangle up enough dancers > to give this a decent walk-thru. This looks like a great dance to tryout at > 4:00 in the morning. :::wink::: If I have this right you are weaving the > line, but faced like you are a crab. > > This is one of those I think a demo set would be the most expedient teach > the A2. Get 8 dancers walked through it before the dance starts or at the > break. > If I have this right you are weaving the line of 4 facing up & down the > hall, faced like you are a crab. > > Looks like it might be fun! > > Bob Green > > > > > On Sat, Aug 18, 2018 at 1:22 AM, Don Veino via Callers < > callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > >> Earlier today, I resurrected a draft dance from (almost exactly) this >> time last year which I'd put aside as probably being too crazy. In looking >> at it again, I started wondering if it is... too crazy... and wrote up a >> more specific description to get it across to others. The magnet people >> show me it works, but they don't say much about how it felt. :-) >> >> As I'm still up due to the caffeine I drank to drive home after a gig >> tonight, I thought I'd type this up and throw it out there for input. Is it >> too crazy? How would you teach the A2 if you attempted it? >> >> Thanks, >> Don >> >> Demolition Derby (DRAFT) - 4 Face 4 - Don Veino 20170823 (updated >> description 20180817) >> >> [starts in lines/4, so G1, L1, G2, L2] >> >> A1 Give & Take up/down to Gents (opposites Swing) [ends in line/4 facing >> up/down: G1, OpL2, G2, OpL1] >> >> A2 "Crazy Eights" [Fig 8 in current lines/4 done a la a Mad Robin - all >> trace path of a figure 8, equidistant rel. to Partner, whom you face >> up/down in the other line/4]: >> (3,1 or 4) Mad Robin CW 1/2x around opposite N you swung [G thru center >> first], OpL1 pass in front of G1 in middle to swap ends [to OpL2, OpL1, G1, >> G2] >> (3,1 or 4) All Pass Same Role Trail Buddy in Fig 8 arc (same arc, but >> opposite dir.) to trade places [G1 and OpL1 take outside path - "insides >> out"], OpL2 pass in front of G2 in middle to swap ends [to OpL1, G2, OpL2, >> G1] >> (3,1 or 4) Mad Robin CCW 1/2x around opposite N [G thru center first], >> OpL1 pass in front of G1 in middle to swap ends [to G2, G1, OpL1, OpL2] >> (3,1 or 4) All Pass Same Role Trail Buddy in Fig 8 arc (same arc, >> opposite dir.) to trade places [G1 and OpL1 take outside path - "insides >> out"], OpL2 pass in front of G2 in middle to swap ends [to end in same >> positions as start of A2: G1, OpL2, G2, OpL1] >> >> B1 w/Opposites Circle/4 Left 3/4x to (face & Pass Partner Right to start) >> Weave the Ring/8 1/2x >> >> B2 Partner Balance (or Gypsy) and Swing, face progression >> >> BTW, it was this dance idea that fed what became another related dance on >> my site, Wild Mouse: http://veino.com/blog/?p=1879 . Neither of these >> have I dared to attempt to date. >> >> ___ >> List Name: Callers mailing list >> List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net >> Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ >> >> > ___ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
[Callers] Barn Weddings are a thing now
This is tangentially related to calling, but apparently the percentage of weddings hosted in barns has grown from 2% to 15% in the last decade ( https://tinyurl.com/ycbm9god). While the article doesn't specific that called dancing has increased as well, I'd be surprised if it hadn't. A decade ago is about when I started calling. I'd appreciate hearing from folks with longer records how they feel the prevalence of wedding gigs has shifted over time; and how that varies geographically. Although possibly the fluctuations are too large to get a decent signal out of the small sample size. From my own records: 2017: I had 14 One-Night-Stand gigs, and 1 of those was a wedding. 2016: I had 14 family level dances, and 4 of those were weddings. 2015: 10 ONS, 3 weddings. 2014: 14 ONS, 7 weddings 2013: 13 ONS, 2 weddings 2012: 4 ONS, 1 wedding As an aside, I really think the 15% of couples having their wedding party in a barn should be framed as a rebound from a longer historic decline. But if it's getting noticed and push-back from banquet hall trade groups, it may be coming to a close. -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] New 4x4 composition with a tunnel, and related questions
In honor of John calling it before I had a chance to test it (and after checking in with him), I'm going to call this "The Brave Sir Sweeney". Hope other folks get to enjoy it. On Mon, Aug 6, 2018 at 6:51 PM, John Sweeney via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Hi Luke, > > I called it tonight. We had low numbers so I tested it > during the interval with some volunteers as a Four Couple Dance. At the > end of the Partner Swing we just faced back to the same line. Or changed > it from Head Lines to Side Lines if we wanted different people to go > through the arches. > > > > I wanted all the Box the Gnats at the same time, so I did > Balance & Box the Gnat. They may have been very slightly late getting > through the tunnel, so, to avoid the possibility of the Balance being late > or random, I changed the Balance & Swing to Dosido & Swing which worked > fine. > > > > I indicated who should go through the tunnel first via a > geographic reference: pick a feature of the room and let people know that > you are going to use it. I called “Window People Tunnel” – that worked > well. > > > > We had lots of room, so the first swing tended to end up > with the set as a square, which meant that the four steps into the middle > were fine, but with less room the “Head Couples” might not have very far to > travel, but I don’t think it would be a problem. > > > > The dancers said that they liked it. I will definitely use > it again. > > > > Does it have a name? > > > > Thanks. > > > > Happy dancing, > >John > > > > John Sweeney, Dancer, England j...@modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 > 940 574 > > http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive Events > & DVDs > > http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent > > > > > *From:* Callers *On Behalf Of *Luke > Donforth via Callers > *Sent:* 02 August 2018 19:36 > *To:* callers@lists.sharedweight.net > *Subject:* [Callers] New 4x4 composition with a tunnel, and related > questions > > > > Hello all, > > > > I've had an idea for a 4 facing 4 dance rattling around, and it seems > unlikely I'll have enough dancers to house-party it anytime soon, so I'd > appreciate feedback on an untested dance. > > > > 4 facing 4 contra > > A1 > > (4) Lines of 4 go forward, take right hand with the one in front of you > > (4) box the gnat, keep and lift right hand to make a tunnel > > (4) couple at stage right side of line of couples duck through to far side > > (4) couple that was at stage left side of line of couples duck through to > far side > > A2 > > (16) Initial corner balance and swing > > (end couples, it's the one they tunneled with, middle folks it's their > trail buddy) > > B1 > > (4) All 8 go into the middle > > (4) On the way out, gents roll the one they swung with away with a half > sashay > > (8) Gents right hand star ~1x (ladies adjust position as needed, stepping > a little to left) > > B2 > > (16) Partner balance and swing, end facing new couple > > > > Questions for those so inclined: > > Would you be interested in dancing and/or calling this dance? Why, or why > not? > > > > The inspiration for the tunnel came from "plow the row", a (to my > knowledge) traditional square (at least, it's traditional enough to have > lots of variations). Anyone know of a tunnel figure in a 4x4 contra? > > > > In the B1, I wrote it as the gents roll the ladies, and the gents star. It > could instead be the ladies roll the gents and ladies star. Preferences? > > > > There are two places where what would normally be "balance+move" have been > replaced with "in to the middle+move"; is the four steps forward before the > box the gnat and the roll away going to throw folks? > > > > How would you prompt the couples on the end going through the tunnel so > that there's only one couple in the tunnel at a time? Or would you prompt > it as both going through and let them figure it out inside the tunnel? > > > > Thanks for feedback. > > > > -- > > Luke Donforth > luke.donfo...@gmail.com > > ___ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
[Callers] New 4x4 composition with a tunnel, and related questions
Hello all, I've had an idea for a 4 facing 4 dance rattling around, and it seems unlikely I'll have enough dancers to house-party it anytime soon, so I'd appreciate feedback on an untested dance. 4 facing 4 contra A1 (4) Lines of 4 go forward, take right hand with the one in front of you (4) box the gnat, keep and lift right hand to make a tunnel (4) couple at stage right side of line of couples duck through to far side (4) couple that was at stage left side of line of couples duck through to far side A2 (16) Initial corner balance and swing (end couples, it's the one they tunneled with, middle folks it's their trail buddy) B1 (4) All 8 go into the middle (4) On the way out, gents roll the one they swung with away with a half sashay (8) Gents right hand star ~1x (ladies adjust position as needed, stepping a little to left) B2 (16) Partner balance and swing, end facing new couple Questions for those so inclined: Would you be interested in dancing and/or calling this dance? Why, or why not? The inspiration for the tunnel came from "plow the row", a (to my knowledge) traditional square (at least, it's traditional enough to have lots of variations). Anyone know of a tunnel figure in a 4x4 contra? In the B1, I wrote it as the gents roll the ladies, and the gents star. It could instead be the ladies roll the gents and ladies star. Preferences? There are two places where what would normally be "balance+move" have been replaced with "in to the middle+move"; is the four steps forward before the box the gnat and the roll away going to throw folks? How would you prompt the couples on the end going through the tunnel so that there's only one couple in the tunnel at a time? Or would you prompt it as both going through and let them figure it out inside the tunnel? Thanks for feedback. -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Looking to DANCE!
Definitely worth dancing with the fine folks in Maine if you get a chance. From: https://deffa.org/events/2018-08/ Looks like your best bets in Maine would be Otis (1 hr) or Bangor (1.5 hr) on Friday; and Bowdoinham or Norway (each ~1 hr) on Saturday. Not sure about Sunday on the road back to Albany. Have fun. On Wed, Jul 25, 2018 at 5:08 PM, Mary Collins via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Will be in Jay Maine for a wedding on August 18th. Looking for a contra > dance to dance (not call but could be coerced) nearby either Friday night > or Saturday night. or Sunday afternoon somewhere between there and Albany > area. > > Thanks! > Mary Collins > “Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass ... it's about learning > to dance in the rain!” ~ Unknown > > > <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email_source=link_campaign=sig-email_content=webmail> > Virus-free. > www.avg.com > <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email_source=link_campaign=sig-email_content=webmail> > <#m_1476480302216337371_DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2> > > ___ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Does a 1/2 figure 8 and cast off exist in ECD? In Contra?
Hi John, While there isn't a person there for the ladies to go around, I'd envisioned them looping around as if they were, and using the space and time to make the move flow. So they'd trace the path of what they'd do with a half figure eight, without a physical presence of the standard post. That leaves them better able to come into the meltdown swing. (Although as others have pointed out, that may work better as a balance and swing anyway). If I understand your Bombast figure (a great name!) the action stays very internal to the space 4 dancers usually take up; whereas the half figure 8 and cast would be more expansive (and thus less adaptable to crowded floor conditions). Thank you to all who wrote back with thoughts and feedback! I appreciate this shared resource. Take care, Luke On Wed, Jul 11, 2018 at 6:00 AM, John Sweeney via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Hi Luke, > I am not sure why you are calling it a Half Figure Eight. Unless > I have misunderstood something, you just have the ladies crossing the set, > going around each other instead of straight across, while the men move out > of the way. Since the active dancers don't go around a gatepost (person or > position) then it doesn't seem to be a Figure Eight sort of move. > > I call that move a Bombast (Headcorn Morris use it and call it > that and I thought it would make a nice dance figure for us). In this > version of the move, instead of the men casting they move straight to their > destination, then turn (the turns aren't full turns - just until you can > see your next destination); the ladies turn as well at their destination. > I also have the move along the set instead of your version across the set. > > The dances below are more ECDish dances, but may help clarify the > idea. > > The "Turn Single Changing Places" starts as a Gypsy Right, but > once you are past each other you keep turning to face away - I often call > it a Spin Past. > > Bombast I (by John Sweeney) > Longways; Improper > > A1: Bombast: >Men go straight across to the Ladies’ places WHILE Ladies Gypsy Right > 1/2 to Men’s Places; All Turn Single >Ladies go straight across to the Men’s places WHILE Men Gypsy Right 1/2 > to Ladies’ Places; All Turn Single > A2: Repeat > B1: Set to Partner, Turn Single Changing Places [End facing out] >Lines Lead Away; Fall Back [Face In at last moment] > B2: Balance the Ring; Ladies Cross; Balance the Ring; Men Cross > > Bombast II (by John Sweeney) > Longways; Improper > > A1: Bombast: >Men go straight across to the Ladies’ places WHILE Ladies Gypsy Right > 1/2 to Men’s Places; All Turn Single >Ladies go straight across to the Men’s places WHILE Men Gypsy Right 1/2 > to Ladies’ Places; All Turn Single > A2: Set to Partner, Turn Single Changing Places [End facing out] >Lines Lead Away; Fall Back [Face In at last moment] > B1: Long Lines Go Forward & Back – Men Roll the Ladies from Right to Left > as you Fall Back >Mad Robin – Men through the Middle > B2: Long Lines Go Forward & Back – Ladies Roll the Men from Right to Left > as you Fall Back >Mad Robin – Ladies through the Middle > > Happy dancing, >John > > John Sweeney, Dancer, England j...@modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 > 940 574 > http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive Events & DVDs > http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent > > > > ___ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Does a 1/2 figure 8 and cast off exist in ECD? In Contra?
As a couple of folks have pointed out (thank you), there's a typo there. The ladies take their partner's place, not neighbors. Thank you for catching that and sorry for the confusion. Michael, I'll track down some videos of dances with chevrons, thanks for the aside. I'm not sure about prompting it as an all cast, since that implies the ladies facing back in after the move, and then casting out again. I was envisioning more of a swoop wide, instead of breaking it into two moves. Eventually I'll get some dancers to house-party it, and I'll see how they both feel though. On Tue, Jul 10, 2018 at 10:53 AM, Michael Dyck via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > On 2018-07-10 08:18 AM, Luke Donforth via Callers wrote: > >> Hello all, >> >> I've been thinking about half figure eights, and variations on them. Is >> anyone familiar (in ECD, contra, or other traditions), where instead of the >> 1s or 2s half figure eight, having the gents or ladies do the move from >> improper formation? >> > > Normally, for a half figure eight (HFE), the 4 dancers start at roughly > the corners of a square, and the dancers from one 'side' start by crossing > through the dancers on the opposite 'side', e.g. > twos HFE up (through the ones) > or > (from a proper set) men HFE across (through the women) > > Your variation is to have the moving dancers start from *diagonal* corners. > > For dancers familiar with HFE, I think the first reaction might be: you've > got your calls mixed up, the women aren't in the correct positions to do an > HFE. Once you convince them that this is intended, the next question might > be: should the women move as if for an HFE *across* or an HFE *along*? > > > As soon as you have something like the ladies do a half figure eight from >> duple improper; they're either going to have to shift where they land, or >> the gents are going to have to get out of the way. It seems to me (during >> my insomnia, not with actual dancers in a house party) that you could have >> the gents cast off and over to a ladies place. i.e.: >> >> /Ladies half figure eight, passing left shoulder in the middle to take >> neighbor gents' place/ >> > > (Presumably you mean their *partner* gent's place. They *could* go to the > neighbor gent's place, but then you'd want them passing *right* in the > middle, and the gents casting over *right* shoulder to *neighbor*'s place, > to avoid collisions.) > > /Meanwhile, gents cast over left shoulder to take partner's place/ >> > > This sounds like a nice figure, but my recommendation is: don't use the > phrase "half figure eight". Instead, you could say something like: > > Ladies trade places, passing left shoulder, > then *all* cast one place counterclockwise around the set. > > This has the gents wait a few beats before starting their cast, which your > original didn't, but I think it's better to have all the casts > synchronized. In an ECD setting, if you wanted to get fancy, you could have > the gents do an on-the-spot figure while the women cross, like a set or > turn single. > > > Your figure reminds me of the figure "chevron" (which is mainly ECD but is > infiltrating contra), the main difference being that in a chevron, the > diagonal-crossers walk straight backwards into their final place rather > than casting there. There are also variations re whether they back along or > across, and whether the others cast in the same direction as the backing-up > or the opposite direction. E.g., > Victor Skowronski's "Companions" has: > diagonals back *across* + others cast *same* direction. > Fried de Metz Herman's "Mylecharane" has: > diagonals back *along* + others cast *opposite* direction. > I'm not sure there's a dance with back *along* + cast *same*, which would > be the combination closest to your figure. > > > -Michael > ___ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
[Callers] Does a 1/2 figure 8 and cast off exist in ECD? In Contra?
Hello all, I've been thinking about half figure eights, and variations on them. Is anyone familiar (in ECD, contra, or other traditions), where instead of the 1s or 2s half figure eight, having the gents or ladies do the move from improper formation? As soon as you have something like the ladies do a half figure eight from duple improper; they're either going to have to shift where they land, or the gents are going to have to get out of the way. It seems to me (during my insomnia, not with actual dancers in a house party) that you could have the gents cast off and over to a ladies place. i.e.: *Ladies half figure eight, passing left shoulder in the middle to take neighbor gents' place* *Meanwhile, gents cast over left shoulder to take partner's place* Which takes (head of hall) W1 M1 m2 w2 to (head of hall) M1 W1 w2 m2 Which ends in the same place as everybody doing a half figure eight, but without 4 people trying to go through the middle at the same time. I think it can still happen in 8 beats of music, with nobody standing around. Is that a sequence people have danced or used? Here's a wrapping to put the whole thing in context. Calliope's Cross Improper contra by Luke Donforth A1 Long lines forward and back Ladies half figure eight, passing left shoulder in the middle to take neighbor gents' place Meanwhile, gents cast over left shoulder to take partner's place A2 Neighbor Right Shoulder Gyre and Swing B1 Circle Left 3/4 Partner Swing B2 Promenade across set with partner, courtesy turn Ladies chain to neighbor The name, and idea, comes from my older daughter (4), who wanted a "Calliope's Cross" dance for herself after hearing about "Tamlin's Cross" for her sister. Calliope like riding figure 8s on her bicycle. I've deliberately kept this simple, instead of trying to get a gents figure 8 while ladies cast in for symmetry. I'm not sure how I'd teach that from the stage; and think I'd have to use a demo. I look forward to hearing the experience of the group! Thanks -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Circles, Crazy Circles
Lots of great dances already suggested. Talking about the bigger picture programming thing, I hear wanting to change the feel and not have circles in every dance. While Give and Take might feel like a cheat to you, it will feel different for the dancers, and it's probably not egregious. You can also add a fair bit of texture with just different results from the circle. A swing ->circle & swing transition is going to feel different than a circle into a chain, or a circle left to a circle right, etc. I think two no-circle dances in a half is a good thing to shoot for, but also showing the various ways the circle can be used. A lot of 4x4 dances don't use circles, so if your crowds are up for (and large enough) for those, they can get you there and add other program texture. As for specific dances that haven't been mentioned yet, here are some with 10+ calls from my box: Marion's Delight by Carol Kopp A turn for the better by Bill Pope Friday Night Fever by Tony Parks Rocket City Romp by Cis Hinkle iFlirt by Luke Donforth 2nd Course by Luke Donforth A Sure Thing by Chris Page (has Circle Right) Treasure of the Sierra Madre by James Hutson (no N swing) Amherst and Wooster by Chris Weiler (no N swing) On Mon, Jul 9, 2018 at 8:16 PM, Rich Sbardella via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Helo Folks, > > This group has been so quiet lately. The group has been so important for > me as I developed my Contra calling repertoire and skills, so I thought I'd > initiate a conversation. > > As I sit here programming a dance I realize that I do not have many dances > without circles. Many that I do have, do not have a Neighbor Swing, or > have a Give & Take to cheat it out. Those factors limit where and when I > can use them. > > I generally like to program two no circle dances in each half, and also a > NO neighbor Swing dance in at least one half if not both halves of an > evening. Any thoughts on this? > > Does anyone want to share some modern contras that have no Circles and no > Give & Takes, but include a partner and neighbor swing. > > Here are a few I have used. > > Just for NEFFA, Linda Leslie > Rollin' and Tumblin'. Cis Hinkle > Rocket City Romp, Cis Hinkle > Travels with Rick and Kim, Shari Miller Johnson > Friday Night Fever, Tony Parkes > > Thanks, > Rich Sbardella > Stafford, CT > > > > ___ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] New dance composition, star to next neighbor hey
Jeff, that's an intricate one! I don't know that I'd run that one outside of a challenge session. Fun to see what you can put together when there doesn't have to be a partner & neighbor swing ;-) On Mon, Jun 25, 2018 at 6:03 PM, Jeffrey Spero via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Here’s one I wrote in back in 1993 (I was ahead of my time?) > > Harvesting the Hey > Becket > > A1 Left diagonal, right and left thru >Straight across, right and left thru > A2 Star left once around >With the NEXT (shadow - leave partners), star right once around > B1 With the previous (the same four as the left hand star), Hey for four > (ladies pass right in the center) > B2 Partners balance and swing > > Jeffrey Spero > > > On Jun 25, 2018, at 1:35 PM, Don Veino via Callers < > callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > Here's one I'm familiar with off the top of my head featuring that > transition (called it at NEFFA this year): > > *Belmont Romp - Becket - Dan Pearl (var DonV)* > A1 Circle Left 3/4x, Neighbor Swing > A2 Long Lines Fwd/Back (note next N) > Star Left 1x to Gents face out, Ladies in > B1 NEXT Ns Full Hey (Ladies pass LEFT in center) > B2 Ladies Cross, Partner Swing > > Dan's original is "modified DI" starting with the hey and has a Circle > Left in place of the Long Lines. Page 94 of Give and Take. > > -Don > > > On Mon, Jun 25, 2018, 4:03 PM Luke Donforth via Callers < > callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > >> Hi folks, >> >> I ran this at a monthly dance, and it was well received; so I figured I'd >> share it around. To my knowledge it's new. Please correct me if you know of >> a prior. >> >> The interesting/odd bit is the transition from B2 to A1, where the ladies >> role comes out of a left hand star with old neighbors to start a hey by the >> left shoulder in the middle with new neighbors. It flows well, but is >> unexpected. >> >> *Hubert Humphrey Deserves More Than Just a Song By Tom Lehrer* >> by Luke Donforth >> Improper, duple minor contra >> A1 >> Ladies start full hey by the left >> A2 >> Neighbor gyre and swing >> B1 >> Circle Left 3/4 >> Partner Swing >> B2 >> Ladies chain across >> Left Hand Star 1x >> >> As for the title, well, I was on a presidents and folk music kick. >> Writing titles is harder than writing dances... >> >> Enjoy. >> >> -- >> Luke Donforth >> luke.donfo...@gmail.com >> ___ >> List Name: Callers mailing list >> List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net >> Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ >> > ___ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > > > > ___ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] New dance composition, star to next neighbor hey
Thanks Michael, Do you happen to know if Greg Frock's was ladies starting by right or left shoulder for the hey? With the balance there, it could be either way. If it was a left shoulder hey, then I'd consider this a variation of that dance. If it was a right shoulder hey, then I'm more inclined to consider them separate. On Mon, Jun 25, 2018 at 4:31 PM, Michael Dyck via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > On 2018-06-25 04:03 PM, Luke Donforth via Callers wrote: > >> Hi folks, >> >> I ran this at a monthly dance, and it was well received; so I figured I'd >> share it around. To my knowledge it's new. Please correct me if you know of >> a prior. >> > > If you replace the "gyre + swing" with "balance + swing", you get Greg > Frock's "Composition 100". > > And if you move the gyre to the start of A1 (so the hey crosses the > phrase), you get one of the variants of Michael Fuerst's "Even Heaven Knows > a Hey No-No": > http://aptsg.org/Dance/dances.html#HeavenKnows > > But I don't see an exact match. > > -Michael > > ___ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
[Callers] New dance composition, star to next neighbor hey
Hi folks, I ran this at a monthly dance, and it was well received; so I figured I'd share it around. To my knowledge it's new. Please correct me if you know of a prior. The interesting/odd bit is the transition from B2 to A1, where the ladies role comes out of a left hand star with old neighbors to start a hey by the left shoulder in the middle with new neighbors. It flows well, but is unexpected. *Hubert Humphrey Deserves More Than Just a Song By Tom Lehrer* by Luke Donforth Improper, duple minor contra A1 Ladies start full hey by the left A2 Neighbor gyre and swing B1 Circle Left 3/4 Partner Swing B2 Ladies chain across Left Hand Star 1x As for the title, well, I was on a presidents and folk music kick. Writing titles is harder than writing dances... Enjoy. -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Looking for a square caller 9/22 Colorado
Dereck, in addition to pinging folks on this list about it, I'd also encourage you (or anyone else trying to refer outside their own geographic base) to check out the caller directory: http://tinyurl.com/hnb72wv Looking at that, I'd say Tine Fields, Peter Johnson, and Wendy Graham Settle are the closest callers (in order of distance). If they can't, they probably know the local scene. On Mon, May 14, 2018 at 5:20 PM, Dereck Kalish via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Hi All, > > I am asking for a friend, who is looking for a square caller for a > wedding on 9/22, in Estes Park, Colorado. > > I don't have any other details, but if anyone is interested I will forward > your response. > > Thank you, > Dereck > > Dereck Kalish > Director NEFFA > Sound Committee > Thursday Night Dance Committee, Chair (Concord, Ma) > dereckkal...@gmail.com > > *Upcoming Contra Dance Calling appearances...* > Manchester, Nh Friday 5/18 > Rehoboth, Ma Friday 5/25 > Conventry, Ct Friday 6/1 > Berlin, Ma Saturday 6/2 > > . > > ___ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com> ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
[Callers] Star 1/2 -> Star 1/2?
I was recently thinking about star to star transitions. There are lots of great dances that go star 1x to opposite hand star 1x (such as Lisa Greenleaf's "Poetry in Motion", Robert Cromartie's "Al's Safeway Produce", Linda Leslie's "Burlington Spirit"...); and then there are the star -> same hand star dances (Mike Richardson's "Star Trek", my "Voyager", Dugan Murphey's "The Next Generation"...) Are there dances that use star just half way -> with next, opposite hand star 1/2 way? I'm envisioning something with a bit of a zig-zag feel, but that could be done in crowded dance halls where you don't want folks swooping out laterally (like John Coffman's "Boys of Urbana"), but more connected than a single file promenade snake like Cary Ravitz's "March of the Coffee Zombies". Are there already dances out there like this? Switchback Stars Improper, single progression A1 With #1 Neighbors, Left Hand star 1/2x With #2 Neighbors, Right Hand star 1/2 With #3 Neighbor, left shoulder gyre 1x A2 With #2 Neighbor, right shoulder gyre and swing (now current neighbors) B1 Circle Left 3/4 Partner Swing B2 Ladies chain across to neighbor Long Lines forward and back If so, how do they handle the timing? And for that dance (assuming it doesn't already exist), would you prefer it as written above, or shifted to put the progression in B2? Switchback Stars + 16B Improper, single progression A1 With Neighbor, right shoulder gyre and swing A2 Circle Left 3/4 Partner Swing B1 Ladies chain across to neighbor Long Lines forward and back B2 With #1 Neighbors, Left Hand star 1/2x With #2 Neighbors, Right Hand star 1/2 With #3 Neighbor, left shoulder gyre 1x come back to Neighbor #2, now current neighbor -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com> ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] New (?) simple dance without a neighbor swing
Thanks for sharing the overlapping ones :-) It's certainly fun to see all the variants. On Fri, Apr 20, 2018 at 7:00 PM, billinhi--- via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > With such a simple dance, one would think so. > Along the way I developed a shorthand, > which I used to both not put dances too similar into the same program, > and build a program with dances which had a definite progression of moves. > So I took your dance and quickly found that: > There are at least 4 dances which have the same A part. > "Daddy's Little Girl" by Chart Guthrie > "Black Mountain Rag" by Henry Garfath > "Monday" by Jim Hemphill > "Salmonella Evening" by Steve Zakon-Anderson > > But only "Daddy's Little Girl" has a similar B part. > A1 > Neighbor Allemande Right 1 1/2 > Gents Allemande Left 1 1/2 > A2 > Partner Balance and Swing > B1 > Ladies chain > Right & Left Thru > B2 > Circle Left > Left hand star 1x > Anr6;Aml6;Spb;-;Cw;T;Ol;*l > > Yours has a nice Cw;*l combination. > Anr6;Aml6;Spb;-;Lfk;M;Cw;*l > > The problem is that the descriptions of many of the older dances aren't > available on-line. > And I don't happen to have access to them. > > "Heritage Reel" by Tony Parkes is a permutation of your dance, > but it starts off with Neighbor Balance and Swing, > doesn't have a Left hand star or Neighbor Allemande Right. > > Bill In HI > > Luke Donforth via Callers wrote: > >> A1 >> Neighbor Allemande Right 1 1/2 >> Gents Allemande Left 1 1/2 >> A2 >> Partner Balance and Swing >> B1 >> Long Lines forward and back >> Promenade across set with partner >> B2 >> Ladies chain back to neighbor >> Left hand star 1x >> > > > --- > This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. > https://www.avast.com/antivirus > > ___ > > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com> ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] New (?) simple dance without a neighbor swing
Not having heard from anyone as already having it in their box, I'll add it to my box as "Calliope's Promenade". Hope it's useful for others out there as well. Thanks all, On Wed, Apr 18, 2018 at 7:35 AM, Luke Donforth <luke.do...@gmail.com> wrote: > Hi folks, > > This is a pretty simple dance without a neighbor swing. Anyone recognize > it as already existing? > > A1 > Neighbor Allemande Right 1 1/2 > Gents Allemande Left 1 1/2 > A2 > Partner Balance and Swing > B1 > Long Lines forward and back > Promenade across set with partner > B2 > Ladies chain back to neighbor > Left hand star 1x > > Thanks > > -- > Luke Donforth > luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com> > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com> ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
[Callers] New (?) simple dance without a neighbor swing
Hi folks, This is a pretty simple dance without a neighbor swing. Anyone recognize it as already existing? A1 Neighbor Allemande Right 1 1/2 Gents Allemande Left 1 1/2 A2 Partner Balance and Swing B1 Long Lines forward and back Promenade across set with partner B2 Ladies chain back to neighbor Left hand star 1x Thanks -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com> ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Playing With Butterflies
> > > Butterfly DRAFT 20180410.2 - DI - Don Veino > A1 N Balance & Swing > A2 Gents Allemande Left 1+1/2x (Ladies left arm over P’s right as picked > up), > P Star Promenade 1/2x, Butterfly Whirl CCW along set to next Ns*, stay > connected with P > B1 Ladies Catch RH, Star Promenade P 1/2x CW, Butterfly Whirl CW into P > Swing [on L’s home side] > B2 Ladies Chain, Half Hey (back to THIS N...) > > End effects: re-enter in Butterfly hold with P (where/how depends upon > answer below) > > *Question: I believe the butterfly shift could progress this dance forward > (whirl shift to right as face out) or reverse (shift left). I believe > reverse progression would flow/feel slightly better but forward progression > could be less confusing to dancers - which would be best? > > I think if you were going to do a butterfly shift, the counter-clockwise shift would feel a smidge better. A concern I have though, is that you're asking couples to butterfly whirl close enough to each other to re-hook for another star promenade. When I think about the butterfly whirl after a star promenade, there's a moment of release where the two couples move away from each other. Bringing that close enough together so that the ladies can catch rights seems to me akin to swinging in the middle of the set. It's worth a house-party test; but I'd make sure to do it with at least 12 dancers to get a feel for spacing (which can be hard to get in a house party). Good luck. -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com> ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] New (?) 4x4 contra
Thanks all, for the factors you eloquently put into words :-) Read, I think you're right that contra dancers are more familiar with it; and that will help too. The proof is in the pudding though; or the dancing as the case may be. I'd say get three friends and see what the two stars feel like; and if dances feel more comfortable moving faster in one than the other. My kinesthetic sense is that the mill grip can be faster, and the feeling of connection allows folks listing to the beat and phrasing to influence those who might be lagging. It may be a regional variation on how connected folks are through their mill-grips though. As yet another variant on the dance that doesn't require stars to go as far, I propose the following for feedback: Tamlin's Cast-off Cross 4x4 A1 Lines of Four go forward and back Corner Swing, square set A2 Gents cast off - behind the one they swung, one place counter-clockwise, to stand next to partner Ladies left hands across star 3/4, take hands in crossed wavy lines of four B1 Balance the crossed wavy lines 1/2 grand hey for 8, turn to find partner B2 Partner balance and swing The tricky bit seems two-fold in A2, where the gents have to take their momentum that would normally bring them into the middle with a left hand ready and curve it out and around with a wide cast; and the ladies have a 3/4 star without a clear bench-mark of who they're landing on (it's not their partner or the one they swung). But possibly those are minor obstacles to a crowd you could through half a grand hey at anyway... Thanks again for all the feedback and questions! :-) -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com> ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] New (?) 4x4 contra
Last night I ran a version of Tamlin's Cross at the local monthly dance. Many dancers found it challenging, but folks seemed to enjoy it. The version I ran: Tamlin's Cross (variation) 4x4 A1 (4) All 8 go into the middle (4) Ladies roll partners away on the way out (8) Corner Swing, square set A2 (8) Gents left hands star 1x; gents drop out (8) Ladies left hands across star 1x; ladies keep hands, and take right hand with corner (making crossed wavy lines of 4) B1 (4) Balance the wavy lines of four (12) half grand hey, start passing corner you swung by right then turn away from corner you swung B2 (16) Partner Balance and Swing End the swing facing new couple, having swapped sides with your trail-buddy couple Two notes on calling: I ran it with a gents hands-across star; but I think it may work better with a mill-grip star for the gents, to get them all the way around faster (ladies still want hands across for the balance). One caller who got to dance it suggested describing the grand hey in the middle as a traffic circle, that everyone merges in and out of, rather than as a hands-free star. I'll try that next time. Note on the name: As some of you may know, my wife and I just had our second child a month ago; and she's named Tamlin. I was spending some time at 2 am bouncing her while she was fussy; and thought "Tamlin's cross... that's got to be the name of a dance". It's one of the few instances of a dance title coming to me before the choreography. And although she's a remarkably chill baby, I've still had plenty of early hours awake time to mull over choreography and this bubbled up. Thank you all for your feedback and insights! Luke ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] New (?) 4x4 contra
Hi Dugan, Thanks for the feedback! I liked the gents roll partner away (from R to L) when it went into a DSD (it feeds the common twirl direct); but I can see your concern when it's running right into the swing. Would ladies roll their partner (L to R) work better in your opinion? The gents would pick up the same clockwise rotation they have in a swing. It's more on the Ladies role to catch then. On Sun, Apr 8, 2018 at 1:11 PM, Dugan Murphy via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Hi, Luke, > > Great new ideas on 4X4 choreography! In regards to the "Tamlin's Cross," > I think the rollaway-swing transition in A1 would feel less than ideal, or > even awkward because the direction of the rollaway is counter to the > direction of the swing. > > I love that transition when the gent is sashaying left and passing a > dancer in the lady role from the gent's left hand to gent's right hand > right, then the gent can catch the other dancer in the lady role in a swing > (as in "Rollin' with Rhode" by Jim Hemphill, "Rollaway Sue" by Bob Isaacs, > "Luna in the Library" by Ron Blechner,""Roll Twelve" by Chris Page, and > "Into the DMZ" by Cary Ravitz, among others). I fear that the > rollaway-swing transition as it is written in "Tamlin's Crossing" wouldn't > be as satisfying as int he dances I listed. > > Thank you for your innovations and I look forward to seeing more! > > Dugan Murphy > Portland, Maine > dugan at duganmurphy.com > www.DuganMurphy.com > www.PortlandIntownContraDance.com > > >> Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2018 12:16:42 -0400 >> From: Luke Donforth <luke.do...@gmail.com> >> Subject: Re: [Callers] New (?) 4x4 contra >> >> Thanks all for the feedback! I'll reach out to Erik and Nils. >> >> As Rick pointed out, the dance could work from standard 4x4 lines; and I >> certainly wouldn't object to folks dancing it that way. In my head, the >> half grand hey precludes this from many dance events, so I figured dancers >> I could toss this at would probably not be thrown by the bent formation. >> But keeping the non-hook moves simple is worthwhile. >> >> I haven't done a Dutch Crossing workshop, although I've been meaning to. >> Nice to see Lisa getting everyone through it, thank you for the link; and >> the reminder to learn Dutch Crossing. >> >> Colin, I don't remember the last time I got to call a 48 bar dance. But if >> I get a band itching to play one, now I've got some things in the quiver. >> >> Jim, I'll admit Heymania is intimidating to me. I like the fixed timing of >> contra, the squishyness of squares is a challenge for me. I'd have to work >> up to that one with some simpler non-musically-square squares. >> >> As for this dance, dropping the balance before the partner swing and >> letting the hey flow into B2 seems the simplest and most forgiving way of >> handling the timing. I like the idea of the reunion moment being marked in >> time though, so that partners know when they're supposed to find each >> other. You could give the hey more time in B1 at the expense of some of >> the >> neighbor swing. What about the following variation, informed by Chris's >> comments on timing? >> >> Tamlin's Cross (variation) >> 4x4 (lines or bent) >> >> A1 >> (4) All 8 go into the middle >> (4) Gents roll partners away on the way out >> (8) Corner Swing, square set >> A2 >> (8) Gents left hands across star 1x; gents drop out >> (8) Ladies left hands across star 1x; >> ladies keep hands, and take right hand with corner (making crossed wavy >> lines of 4) >> B1 >> (4) Balance the wavy lines of four >> (12) half grand hey, start passing corner you swung by right >> then turn away from corner you swung >> B2 >> (16) Partner Balance and Swing >> End the swing facing new couple, having swapped sides with your >> trail-buddy >> couple >> >> That gives both roles the muscle memory of a left hand star in the middle >> as prep for the handless-star in the hey; which could either be helpful or >> monotonous. >> >> I wouldn't usually chase a left hand star with a left hand star, but I >> think left will flow better for the gents out of a swing; and I want the >> corners to take right hands (because getting folks to balance left then >> right seems impossible outside of Rory o'More). The two left hand stars >> would also leave some room for silliness on the part of the dancers. >> A2 could be ladies right hand star, then gents left; but I'm not super >> fond >> of th
Re: [Callers] New (?) 4x4 contra
Thanks all for the feedback! I'll reach out to Erik and Nils. As Rick pointed out, the dance could work from standard 4x4 lines; and I certainly wouldn't object to folks dancing it that way. In my head, the half grand hey precludes this from many dance events, so I figured dancers I could toss this at would probably not be thrown by the bent formation. But keeping the non-hook moves simple is worthwhile. I haven't done a Dutch Crossing workshop, although I've been meaning to. Nice to see Lisa getting everyone through it, thank you for the link; and the reminder to learn Dutch Crossing. Colin, I don't remember the last time I got to call a 48 bar dance. But if I get a band itching to play one, now I've got some things in the quiver. Jim, I'll admit Heymania is intimidating to me. I like the fixed timing of contra, the squishyness of squares is a challenge for me. I'd have to work up to that one with some simpler non-musically-square squares. As for this dance, dropping the balance before the partner swing and letting the hey flow into B2 seems the simplest and most forgiving way of handling the timing. I like the idea of the reunion moment being marked in time though, so that partners know when they're supposed to find each other. You could give the hey more time in B1 at the expense of some of the neighbor swing. What about the following variation, informed by Chris's comments on timing? Tamlin's Cross (variation) 4x4 (lines or bent) A1 (4) All 8 go into the middle (4) Gents roll partners away on the way out (8) Corner Swing, square set A2 (8) Gents left hands across star 1x; gents drop out (8) Ladies left hands across star 1x; ladies keep hands, and take right hand with corner (making crossed wavy lines of 4) B1 (4) Balance the wavy lines of four (12) half grand hey, start passing corner you swung by right then turn away from corner you swung B2 (16) Partner Balance and Swing End the swing facing new couple, having swapped sides with your trail-buddy couple That gives both roles the muscle memory of a left hand star in the middle as prep for the handless-star in the hey; which could either be helpful or monotonous. I wouldn't usually chase a left hand star with a left hand star, but I think left will flow better for the gents out of a swing; and I want the corners to take right hands (because getting folks to balance left then right seems impossible outside of Rory o'More). The two left hand stars would also leave some room for silliness on the part of the dancers. A2 could be ladies right hand star, then gents left; but I'm not super fond of the swing->ladies go in transition. It happens a lot in swing->chain, but I don't think it would add to the dance here. Thanks again for sharing your experience :-) -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com> ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
[Callers] New (?) 4x4 contra
Hello all, I was playing around with a new (?) composition; and since it's a 4x4, it's unlikely I'll get a house-party together to test it any time soon. I'd appreciate feedback on flow (would it work), timing (is it too much?) and how you'd teach it. I'm especially curious if something similar exists in the square dance repertoire; specifically the figure used in B1 Tamlin's Cross Bent 4x4 (i.e. 4x4 formation, but with couples facing into the middle on an X, instead of straight up and down in lines of four) A1 (4) All 8 go into the middle and shout (4) Gents roll partners away on the way out (8) Neighbor Do-Si-Do A2 (16) Neighbor Balance and Swing (square the set and face in) B1 (8) Gents left hands across star 1x (8) start passing neighbor you swung by right, all 8 half hey through, then turn away from neighbor you swung B2 (16) Partner Balance and Swing End the swing facing new couple, having swapped sides with your trail-buddy couple For the half hey through, all 8 folks are moving at the same time. At the end of A2, there are couples in head and side position (nobody is with their partner). The heads are heying up and down, while the sides are heying across. When four people of the same role come into the middle, what would normally be a left shoulder pass is (in my mind's eye) half of a left hand star I look forward to hearing your thoughts. Thanks -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com> ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] The loss of one of our own
Chris eloquently addressed this tragic loss. I remember the encouragement and advise she provided me after my guest slot calling at the Ralph Page Dance Legacy Weekend, when I was still new and nervous. I will miss her incredible warmth and support. On Tue, Feb 13, 2018 at 1:50 PM, Seth Seeger via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Dear callers, > > It is with great sadness that I pass on the message below. Her support of > this community and to many of us as individuals cannot be overstated. She > will be missed. > > Seth > > > Begin forwarded message: > > > To the dance community: > > These are excerpts from a letter from Chris Ricciotti. > > It is with great sadness that I am passing on the news that Linda Leslie > passed away Sunday evening. She called on Thursday night at the Concord > Scout House, Friday evening at the Rehoboth Contra Dance, and then again on > Saturday evening at our own contra dance in Jamaica Plain. She called an > amazing dance program for all of us those evenings! > > Linda had been having difficulty breathing during the past week or so, > particularly after walking, and this became increasing worse over the past > few evenings. On Sunday evening, she was taken by ambulance to her local > Emergency Room and she passed away in the ambulance on the way to the > hospital. > > Her husband Bob Golder has requested that Linda’s passing NOT be posted on > Facebook. Email and word of mouth is fine, but he prefers this not to > become a Facebook event. > > As a caller, she took the love and the joy she experienced as a dancer, > and transformed the dance community every where she went, touching us all > with her lovely soft spoken presence that would make you feel embraced with > that love she had when she danced. To many of us, she was like our dancing > “mom” or “grandmom”, always a warm smile, always ready with humor, always > looking out to make sure everyone was having a good time, and feeling safe > within the room. > > In our community, she was a bridge builder, and a role model of what good > dancing and community building are all about. She was also a HUGE advocate > of gender-free dancing. She was one of the key people who helped us > connect with and be an accepted part of the greater community of dancers, > and encouraged us to share our love of dancing with others as a way to help > build those connections. > > She was also a part of helping us to build the strong relationship we have > with NEFFA, being a support to our fundraising food booth, being present at > meetings we had with NEFFA as we worked on being more of a part of the > greater dance community, helping us to navigate the issues that were > occasionally a part of this process, as she helped us to better understand > the greater dance community, as they came to know us > > At our dance camps, as many of you know, her presence was always a welcome > treat, whether she came as a dancer simply because she loved our community > so much, or when she would come as a caller to build our community, and the > bonds that go with it, as she shared her passion and love of music and > dancing. > > And of course, we cannot forget her delightful husband Bob, who has also > been a warm personality, much loved in our community, also sharing his love > of dancing with us, not only as a dancer, but as a caller, having written > some of my favorite dances along the way. Bob has also being a great NEFFA > advocate helping us many times along the way. His warm smile and > delightful presence has brought a lot of joy to us a lot over the years, > and he continues to be a part of the family that makes our dance a special > place to be. > > I know we will all miss Linda very much. It’s very difficult to lose > someone who has had such a presence in our lives and who has brought us so > much, and who was a big part of our dancing family. As we find out more > information about memorial service arrangements, we will let you know, > along with any memorial dances that may be organized in her honor. > > In the mean time, when we come together to dance, let us honor her memory > by sharing that joy she brought to each of us, with each other, and let us > dance in honor of all our friends and loved ones who have gone before us. > It is moments like this that are so precious – and Linda was certainly one > of them! > > In sorrow and gratitude for having the honor of knowing Linda, > > Chris Ricciotti > > > > > ___ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com> ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Nerdy dances
Thank you for the shout out to Entangled in Monte Carlo :-) Two others to add to your list: Angela DeCarlis: Dr Whiting's Delight https://www.angeladecarlis.com/original-choreography (written and named for one of the astrophysicists involved in confirming gravitational waves) Mike Richardson's "Star Trek" has been picked up and referenced; by many others, Including Dugan Murphey's "The Next Generation". And it doesn't get much more nerdy than self-referential in-joke pile-ons ;-) On Wed, Feb 7, 2018 at 11:43 AM, DAVID HARDING via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > "Entangled in Monte Carlo" by Luke Donforth > > http://www.madrobincallers.org/2014/11/12/contra-with-a-swing-dance-move/ > > On February 7, 2018 at 8:58 AM Ron Blechner via Callers < > callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > Hey callers, > > I'm looking for dances with nerdy inspirations to add a few more choices > to an upcoming session. Skill level easy through intermediate+. > > This can be dances inspired by a nerdy reason (like Jurassic Redheads or > Star Trek) or some kind of nerdy-choreography. > > Thanks! > > Ron Blechner > ___ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > > > ___ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com> ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Etiquette of refusing an offer to dance
At the dances I've seen/called in and around VT, we don't address this directly (with signs or such). I've heard of the practice of sitting after declining, but I don't think it's a common practice for most folks these days. I'd say it's mostly fallen by the wayside. The one time I've seen it come up at a dance was more than a decade ago when an older male dancer castigated a young female dancer for turning him down and then dancing with someone else instead of sitting out. Several folks told her afterwards that he was rude and impertinent and she hadn't been in the wrong. I wish we'd taken a stronger line with him directly too though. I don't know if she offered an excuse or just a no, thank you. I like CD*NY's etiquette list that Alexandra linked to ( http://cdny.org/what-is-contra/contra-etiquette/), especially the bit that addresses this: *You are always free to say no when someone asks you to dance. You don’t have to give a reason; you can just say “No, thank you.” If you ask someone to dance and they say “No,” take it gracefully and move on. If someone has declined to dance with you, the etiquette in our community is not to ask that person again that same night. If they would like to dance with you, they can come ask you—it’s their turn to do the asking.* Adding that you shouldn't ask someone multiple times, but have put the ball in their court seems a polite nudge to folks on both sides Incorporating some of the other strong suggestions that have come up on this discussion, I might advocate our group putting up something like: You are always free to say no when someone asks you to dance. No reasons are required; a short "No, thank you.” gives that person more time to find a different partner. If you ask someone... Thanks for starting this discussion Kalia! It seems like one that could have gone on the organizers shared-weight instead of callers; but this one does seem to be most people's default. -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com> ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Put Your Red Hand In
Thanks for sharing! I wonder about getting a bulk order of red hair-scrunchies that could be used as loose bracelets. On Mon, Nov 6, 2017 at 7:19 PM, Rich Sbardella via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > I had a Girl Scout Dance coming up Sunday and I was thinking how I would > get 150 six to nine year old girls to know which hand was right and which > hand is left. On the way to my contra calling gig on Saturday, the thought > arose that right hand sounds very close to red hand. On the way to the > Scout Dance, I stopped and purchased scissors and some red ribbon (the > store did not carry yarn) and asked that the leaders tie a red ribbon > bracelet around each scout as they entered the hall. When I called dances > with arm turns I called, "Turn your partner with your red hand, change > hands, other way back." It worked so well that I know I will do it again. > > I thought I would share this trick, and then ask if anyone has useful > methods when working with only children. Please share some trade secrets. > > Rich Sbardella > Stafford, CT > > ___ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com> ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Publishing dances on the web
Oh! I hadn't seen that. That's neat. Thanks for sharing Michael. And Mary, don't feel bad. Lots of folks have told me my dances are a pain to find. On Sun, Nov 5, 2017 at 9:14 AM, Michael Dyck via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > On 2017-11-04 11:26 PM, Luke Donforth via Callers wrote: > >> There's been talk on and off of a big [web] database of dances, >> but that doesn't seem to be happening >> > > There are some efforts to make it happen. > > One of them is at: > http://contradb.com/ > (note that searching requires JavaScript to be enabled). > > The software (a Ruby app) is under active development at: > https://github.com/dcmorse/contra > > -Michael > > ___ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com> ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
[Callers] Publishing dances on the web
Hi Folks, I currently have a terrible system for publishing dances I've written on the web (blog-esque thing in wordpress; really hard to search through). There's been talk on and off of a big database of dances, but that doesn't seem to be happening so I thought I should do something for mine. I'm contemplating better ways of making dances my compositions more accessible; and since that would be for other people, I'm curious what's useful for other people. I'm envisioning four categories of dances; and then just lists of dances (title & sequence) on those pages. The categories I had in mind: Family dances Glossary contras Unique contras Odd formations Are there separate things you'd want to see in a list of dances when you're going through? Beckets, Closing dances, bouncy/smooth, etc. I've gotten really attached to Callers Companion ( http://callerscompanion.com/), and really like how it lets searches happen on dances. Anyone have a good way to incorporate that, or the type of element checklist/flag it provides, into a web-based interface for dances? It might also be that most folks don't collect dances from websites; and this is wasted time. But it does seem like I've obfuscated finding my compositions, and I regret not making them more available. Thoughts, opinions, experience, and advice appreciated. Thanks! -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com> ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Vallimont's Silver Hammer
Hello all, Vallimont's Silver Hammer came out in May of 2016. The dance came out of a conversation with the talented musician Julie Vallimont about closing sets; and how callers like dances that end with swings but bands often have something that builds to a big hit at the A to B transition in the music. I was trying to put a balance at the top of the B1 & B2, and ending with a partner swing. Yes, the Beatles reference is deliberate. The dance that I call Vallimont's Silver Hammer is *Vallimont's Silver Hammer* *by Luke Donforth* Becket A1 Circle Left Neighbor Swing A2 Promenade across with neighbor Ladies chain to partner B1 Right to neighbor, balance and pull by; pull by partner left shadow DSD 1x B2 Partner Balance and Swing slide left Note, I'd originally posited another dance as Vallimont's Silver Hammer; but it turned out that Bob Isaacs had already written and named that one; so I wrote Julie a different one. That dance: *Return 2 Sender* *by Bob Isaacs*Becket A1 Circle left 3/4 Neighbor swing A2 Gents start hey for 4 by left B1 Right to neighbor (women back to back in middle), balance and box gnat Pull by right, women allemande left 1 1/2 B2 Partner balance and swing Slide left So Mary Collins, please make sure that the dance you have isn't actually Bob's with a different name; since I may have caused some confusion over the names back then. Both my dance and Chris Weiler's Vallimont's Steamboat pay homage to the same Julie Vallimont (I don't know how many there are out there, but it's the same one). His happens to have a long lines at the top of B1 (which Julie also considers acceptable for closing sets) and ends with a partner swing. Some day we may put together a whole set of Vallimont :-) And what I've gotten from this thread is I've got to get around to making a better website for listing my dances. My Mad Robin blog is fun for discussion, but terrible for finding things. Happy Dancing! On Thu, Nov 2, 2017 at 1:25 PM, Don Heinold via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Hi Friends, > > "Vallimont's Steamboat" is a fine dance and was written by Chris Weiler > and you can find it on his site here.. > http://caller.chrisweiler.ws/dances.htm#vallimonts > > Don Heinold, RI Caller > > > -- > *From:* Angela DeCarlis via Callers <callers@lists.sharedweight.net> > *To:* frannie <dancingfran...@gmail.com> > *Cc:* callers <Callers@lists.sharedweight.net> > *Sent:* Thursday, November 2, 2017 12:33 PM > *Subject:* Re: [Callers] Vallimont's Silver Hammer > > Vallimont's Steamboat is the dance written for musician Julie Vallimont, > to the tune Vladimir's Steamboat. I imagine this has something to do with > it, but of course Luke will be chiming in before long with the *actual* > story, I'm sure. > > On Thu, Nov 2, 2017 at 12:06 PM, frannie via Callers < > callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > > Luke Donforth > > On Thu, Nov 2, 2017 at 8:59 AM, Mary Collins via Callers > <callers@lists.sharedweight. > net <callers@lists.sharedweight.net>> wrote: > > Have the dance, not the author > > And...any anecdotal information. > > Thanks all!! > > __ _ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/c all...@lists.sharedweight.net/ > <https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/> > > > > > -- > twirls, > Frannie > > __ _ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/ callers@lists.sharedweight. net/ > <https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/> > > > ___ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > > > > ___ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ > > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com> ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] pre-school dances?
Thanks for the suggestions! I've gotten lots of fun ideas on and off list; and resources I should go and check out. (I'll admit, I've picked up some of the CDSS pamphlet/books in the past, and been underwhelmed by their utility; but it sounds like there are some other ones to pick up). Part of my motivation for this is trying to go into my child's pre-school for a dance program. My daughter knows enough about contra that she wants to dance (she's now started writing dances, which I guess shows me what I've been modelling...) but my calling gigs are too usually past her bedtime. So I'm trying to find things that make it feel like a dance for her. I'm sure I'll end up using this material in other situations (recently got a call from a family center about a dance, etc). Thanks again. On Sun, Oct 29, 2017 at 12:53 AM, Luke Donforth <luke.do...@gmail.com> wrote: > Hi Folks, > > I've got my collection of family dances that I use with mixed age groups. > But I wonder if anyone has recommendations for family dance stuff when you > don't have the full family? > > What's good for ~12 pre-schoolers (age 3 to 5) when they aren't dancing > with their parents; and you have maybe 2 other adults total. It seems > dubious they'd get through even two dances, so give me your favorite if you > have one. > > Thanks! > > -- > Luke Donforth > luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com> > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com> ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
[Callers] Checking on a new composition - glossary dance
I wrote out a glossary dance; not a first in the evening, but maybe second. Anyone know of a prior version? Spend Some Time Together by Luke Donforth Contra/Improper/Easy A1 --- (8) Long lines, forward and back (8) Neighbor swing A2 --- (8) Men allemande Left 1-1/2 (8) Partner Do-si-do B1 --- (16) Partner balance and swing B2 --- (8) Promenade across the Set (8) Women's Chain across The B2 moves could be swapped, but I liked how much time you could get with a partner this way (hence the title). I wouldn't use it as a first dance, but it seems like a nice second one to teach the a chain. -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com> ___ List Name: Callers mailing list List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
Re: [Callers] Grid Contra: Contra Bias (as in, on the diagonal)
Hello all, Thank you for the (off-list) feedback on the previous grid contra. I wrote another grid contra; and actually walked it through at a dance camp I was calling at (thank you Echo Summit). We didn't dance it (the musicians were on break). But the patterns worked. I've incorporated their feedback into the language I've used to describe it (swapped from bias/other to designating with colors): *Pong* (Grid Contra) single set lateral progression (i.e. double horizontal becket) single vertical progression Alternating Left or Right designation for sets Orange corners: for left sets is gents (people on left); for right sets is ladies (people on right) Purple corners: for left sets is ladies (people on right); for right sets is gents (people on left) A1 ———– (4) Balance the Ring (4) Orange corners swap by right shoulder, all face across at neighbor (4) walk across set to new set, Pass neighbor 1 by left and neighbor 2 by right (4) Women allemande left half way A2 ———– (16) Neighbor balance and swing B1 ———– (8) Circle Left 3/4 (8) Partner swing B2 ———– (4) Balance the Ring (4) Purple corners swap by right (4) Right to partner, balance (4) square through: pull by right with partner and left with neighbor – face new neighbor Notes: When you reach an edge of the sets, you pass your partner (as neighbor #2) and face back in. Your corner color swaps purple<->orange. When you reach an end of a set, you wait out one time (and swap places with your partner). Your number changes 1<->2, and your color changes purple<->orange. In either edge or end case, you’ll “bounce”; like in the old video game Pong. You change one direction of travel, but not the other one (i.e. specular reflection). Your color swaps when you wait out one time at the ends, but the lateral wall you’re travelling towards doesn’t change. As a mnemonic, O comes become P, so the Orange corners will swap before the Purple corners. Orange corners are the folks standing on the direction of lateral progression side of their couple (i.e. gents are on the left, so left sets have gents as orange couples). For a discussion of where each person is after the moves; I go in diagrammed depth at http://www.madrobincallers.org/2017/09/19/pong-a-grid-contra/ Feel free to share your thoughts or feedback. I think this one, although certainly advanced, is danceable if the prompting language works. On Tue, Sep 5, 2017 at 2:00 PM, Luke Donforth <luke.do...@gmail.com> wrote: > Hello all, > > I had a three hour drive to a gig the other day, and ruminated (again) on > grid contras. I think I've come up with a potentially dancable one. This is > advanced-dance stuff, not to be deployed lightly. And while I hope it won't > take 3 hours to digest this e-mail, I'm going to get into the weeds here. > Dive in only if you feel like bush-whacking with me. Here we go... > > I'm going at it from a theoretical framework, from the ground up. This is > NOT how I'd teach it to dancers. If you want to start with the dance, jump > to down to *Contra Bias* in bold. > > One drawback to grid contras attempts is what I'll call the "corner issue" > (discussed in more detail in footnote); where folks travel on diagonal > lines and get stuck in closed loop. Grid Squares can break the loop by > having figures and breaks that do different things. You're less likely to > get stuck in a corner when you progress in different ways at different > times through the dance. > > But modern contra is defined by doing the same sequence every time > through. I personally enjoy, as a dancer and as a caller, when the caller > can drop out and let the dancers move to the music. (It's why I'm biased > towards contras.) So I want a sequence that doesn't trap dancers in a > corner loop, but is the same sequence every time. So I think we need to > de-couple the up and down the set progression from the lateral progression > from set to set. If you're a 1, you're going to stay a 1 until you reach > the bottom of the set, whether or not you reach the edge of the sets. The > 2s will be 2s until they reach the top of the hall. But if you were > progressing to the right across sets, when you reach the edge, you have to > start progressing left; or you'll run out of dancers. So some folks are > progressing right, and some left. That means that different sets will have > different progressions. > > Let's set up a dance hall, 8 sets wide, and 4 hands-four deep. > Stage is to the North (or you can think of N for Nutcase Caller...) > (*I've attempted to format this with a fixed-width font to keep the grid > clear. If it doesn't line up, your e-mail program may have changed the > formatting*). > > N > 1s(A1) 1s(B1) 1s(C1) 1s(D1) 1s(E1) 1s(F1) 1s(G1) 1s(H1) > 2s(a1) 2s(b1) 2s(c1)
[Callers] Grid Contra: Contra Bias (as in, on the diagonal)
le. If you reach the end, pass your partner as one of your four and trade lines that you're heying in. When you've just come in off the ends, or around the edges; trust the folks coming at you with regards to who is Bias/Other corners. Mentioning small swing would be critical, since you'll need to end tight enough that you can go from a swing to a ring balance. And I think it's worth walking twice, just so that people don't have to go back ;-) I welcome feedback on the whole thing; but also see this mostly as a theoretical exercise about what a grid contra could be. The conditions to actually call it seem less common than a solar eclipse; and there's not a great way to practice it ahead of time. But if someone wants to get a couple hundred people together, I'd be game to give it a go. Thanks for even reading this far. ~~ *Footnote:* *Corner Issue (or why I de-coupled the progression directions):* Standard contra has you progress up and down the line, turning around when you reach an end. If everyone in a grid contra were to progress to the right one set while also progressing up and down, you're progressing on a diagonal. When you reach the edge of the set; you have to swap number, or the grid runs out of dancers. One you pop out of the bottom as 1s in a regular contra, you have to come back as a 2s to replace the folks that would normally have danced with you and moved past you. Same thing on the edges for and all-same lateral progression grid contra. In a case where you have 8 sets A-H, 4 hands four deep: 1s(A1) 1s(B1) 1s(C1) 1s(D1) 1s(E1) 1s(F1) 1s(G1) 1s(H1) 2s(a1) 2s(b1) 2s(c1) 2s(d1) 2s(e1) 2s(f1) 2s(g1) 2s(h1) 1s(A2) 1s(B2) 1s(C2) 1s(D2) 1s(E2) 1s(F2) 1s(G2) 1s(H2) 2s(a2) 2s(b2) 2s(c2) 2s(D2) 2s(e2) 2s(f2) 2s(g2) 2s(h2) 1s(A3) 1s(B3) 1s(C3) 1s(D3) 1s(E3) 1s(F3) 1s(G3) 1s(H3) 2s(a3) 2s(b3) 2s(c3) 2s(D3) 2s(e3) 2s(f3) 2s(g3) 2s(h3) 1s(A4) 1s(B4) 1s(C4) 1s(D4) 1s(E4) 1s(F4) 1s(G4) 1s(H4) 2s(a5) 2s(b4) 2s(c4) 2s(D4) 2s(e4) 2s(f4) 2s(g4) 2s(h4) If the progression for a grid contra were: 1s down the set 1 couple, and right one set 2s up the set 1 couple, and right one set Then when couple 1s(A1) finished one time through the dance, they'd come back in as the 2s(a1) couple. The initial 2s(a1) will come in as 1s(A1); and they'd never get to dance with anyone else. The B1 couples would only get dance with 2 other couples. C1 with 3. D1 with four, and which point the length and width tie for influence. But everyone from D1 to A4 is stuck in their corner, travelling back and forth on a diagonal line. If all the 1s and 2s progress in different directions, i.e. 1s down and right, 2s down and left; then you're shifting the whole dance hall; i.e. folks are shifting into sets to the right of A, and leaving set H. Other progression attempts, say 1s down and right 2; 2s up and right 2; just draw different diagonal lines through the matrix. You could try to set up a diamond set, but that's logistically a pain, and you'd still only be travelling in one set, it would just be on a diagonal compared to regular progression. You could make a single-lateral progression grid contra, and have folks wait out at the sides. The waiting out folks could swap with another waiting out couple to switch the diagonal line that they were bouncing around in. But it'd either be chaotic with random swapping (and who would want to go to the "bad" corner and get stuck) or systematic - everyone shuffles two places along; but then folks have to run from top to bottom; and grid contras are designed for large numbers of dancers. The alternating lateral progression sets of *Bias Contra* creates (in my mind) two sub-lattices of contra sets, who's boundary conditions for propagating units (i.e. couples) feed into each other. But I don't know that thinking of it that way would make sense to anyone besides a physicist. -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com> ___ Callers mailing list Callers@lists.sharedweight.net http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
Re: [Callers] If You Can Walk...
I wrote a couple different ones, playing with that title. They're all similar, and mostly designed to go after my beginner walk through (which teaches the progression with balance the ring -> pass through) It's highly probable that other folks have also used riffs on that title, and that these dances already exist under other names: If you can walk, then you can dance by Luke Donforth Contra/Improper/Easy A1 --- (8) Neighbor Do-si-do (8) Neighbor swing A2 --- (8) Promenade across the Set (with neighbor) (8) Circle Right 3/4 B1 --- (16) Partner balance and swing B2 --- (8) Circle Left 3/4 (4) Balance the Ring (4) Pass through to new neighbors I like to walk, I love to dance by Luke Donforth Contra/Improper/Beginner-Easy A1 --- (8) Neighbor Do-si-do (8) Neighbor swing A2 --- (8) Promenade across the Set (8) Long lines, forward and back B1 --- (8) Gents allemande Left 1-1/2 (8) Partner swing B2 --- (8) Circle Left 3/4 (4) Balance the Ring (4) Pass through to new neighbors (This is the same moves as "To Wedding Bliss" by Mark Goodwin, but the A2 and B1 are reversed, so you promenade with neighbor instead of partner) Don’t have to walk, but you can dance by Luke Donforth Contra/Improper/Easy A1 --- (8) Neighbor Do-si-do (8) Neighbor swing A2 --- (8) Promenade across the Set (with neighbor) (8) Ladies allemande Right 1-1/2 B1 --- (16) Partner balance and swing B2 --- (8) Circle Left 3/4 (4) Balance the Ring (4) California Twirl with Partner I look forward to hearing what other dances exist under that title. Luke On Mon, Apr 10, 2017 at 9:41 PM, Rich Sbardella via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > I am looking for a contra dance titled, "If You Can Walk, You can Dance", > or maybe, "If you Can Dance, You Can Walk". > > Would someone please share it, or a link. > > Thanks, > Rich > > ___ > Callers mailing list > Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com>
Re: [Callers] Lindy move in a Contra Dance
Thanks Jack! I thought that seemed familiar. Digging in my box, I think it's also Box the Cat by Lisa Greenleaf. I don't know who wrote it first. The A2 through B2 also overlaps Contracordians by Scott Higgs and James Hutson; and Sneak Preview by Claudio Buckwald. A very popular sequence. On Tue, Apr 4, 2017 at 11:44 PM, Jack Mitchell <jmitchell...@gmail.com> wrote: > Indeed, the dance with the box the gnat in place of the mini-dip is > written - Becky's Brouhaha by Rhiannon Giddens. > On Mon, Apr 3, 2017 at 3:34 PM Luke Donforth via Callers < > callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > >> Hello folks, >> >> There was a recent call for new dances, but I can't find the thread, so >> here's a fresh post. >> >> Continuing what I think of as a long-standing tradition of contra dance >> choreography stealing moves from other dances; I've written a few with the >> mini-dip, a move from swing dancing. (Despite the name, it's not really a >> dip) >> >> I was recently on a small tour with Chimney Swift, and premiered one at >> the BIDA dance in Boston. >> >> You can check out a video of it here: >> https://goo.gl/photos/qaeUuuSKt9PKBY3v8 >> >> For an explanation of what swing dancers consider a mini dip: >> https://youtu.be/nGI9IfhSCQE?t=6 >> https://youtu.be/LiElJr7YSQA?t=99 >> >> There's different opinions in swing if it's a 6 count or 8 count move, >> but I put it in 8 counts. The break down: >> 1-2: moving forward on balance >> 3-4: moving backwards on balance >> 5: pull past each other >> 6: clap (while low and moving) >> 7: catch hands >> 8: style pause >> >> Functionally, it's like a box the gnat; but folks let go and have an >> opportunity to clap and add style. >> >> The entire dance in that video is ~75% Bob Isaacs' "United We Dance"; >> replacing long wavy Rory O'More's in the A1 with the mini-dip sequence, so >> it's called "United We Mini-Dip". >> >> Improper >> A1 >> (8) Right hand to neighbor, balance, and mini-dip; catch right hands >> (2) Pull by right with current neighbor to previous neighbor >> (6) Previous neighbor allemande Left 1x, back to current neighbor >> A2 >> (16) Current neighbor balance and swing >> B1 >> (6) Circle left 3/4 >> (10) Partner swing >> B2 >> (8) Ladies Chain to neighbor >> (8) Left Hand Star 1x >> >> I know NB, CL PSwg, Chain Star, overlaps other dances as well. You >> could do the whole thing with a box the gnat instead of a mini dip in the >> A1 (that may already exist as a choreographed and called dance); but I like >> the clap opportunity the mini-dip provides, especially if the band matches >> it well to a tune (as Chimney Swift did). >> >> Enjoy if you're so inclined. >> >> -- >> Luke Donforth >> luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com> >> ___ >> Callers mailing list >> Callers@lists.sharedweight.net >> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net >> > -- > Jack Mitchell > Durham, NC > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com>
[Callers] Lindy move in a Contra Dance
Hello folks, There was a recent call for new dances, but I can't find the thread, so here's a fresh post. Continuing what I think of as a long-standing tradition of contra dance choreography stealing moves from other dances; I've written a few with the mini-dip, a move from swing dancing. (Despite the name, it's not really a dip) I was recently on a small tour with Chimney Swift, and premiered one at the BIDA dance in Boston. You can check out a video of it here: https://goo.gl/photos/qaeUuuSKt9PKBY3v8 For an explanation of what swing dancers consider a mini dip: https://youtu.be/nGI9IfhSCQE?t=6 https://youtu.be/LiElJr7YSQA?t=99 There's different opinions in swing if it's a 6 count or 8 count move, but I put it in 8 counts. The break down: 1-2: moving forward on balance 3-4: moving backwards on balance 5: pull past each other 6: clap (while low and moving) 7: catch hands 8: style pause Functionally, it's like a box the gnat; but folks let go and have an opportunity to clap and add style. The entire dance in that video is ~75% Bob Isaacs' "United We Dance"; replacing long wavy Rory O'More's in the A1 with the mini-dip sequence, so it's called "United We Mini-Dip". Improper A1 (8) Right hand to neighbor, balance, and mini-dip; catch right hands (2) Pull by right with current neighbor to previous neighbor (6) Previous neighbor allemande Left 1x, back to current neighbor A2 (16) Current neighbor balance and swing B1 (6) Circle left 3/4 (10) Partner swing B2 (8) Ladies Chain to neighbor (8) Left Hand Star 1x I know NB, CL PSwg, Chain Star, overlaps other dances as well. You could do the whole thing with a box the gnat instead of a mini dip in the A1 (that may already exist as a choreographed and called dance); but I like the clap opportunity the mini-dip provides, especially if the band matches it well to a tune (as Chimney Swift did). Enjoy if you're so inclined. -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com>
[Callers] Increased number of community dance requests?
Hi all, Just wondering if anyone else is experiencing a bump in requests for community/family dances? I feel like the last month or so, there's been an uptick in schools and community centers requesting them. Could be a local fluctuation, or something bigger. Anyone else getting that impression? Possibly I'm projecting based on my own desire to build community through dance, but a couple years ago I was knocking on doors trying to make these happen, and now they're knocking on our door. Hope you're all having a similar experience! -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com>
Re: [Callers] Totals for taxes
I've already had two inquires, so I should specify, the $8000 was income paid not counting airplane tickets. It didn't remove mileage reimbursement, CDSS membership and insurance, etc. Net comes to about $5000. On Mon, Jan 16, 2017 at 11:25 PM, Luke Donforth <luke.do...@gmail.com> wrote: > Hello all, > > 2016 is done, which for me means I can total up my calling for taxes and > such. > > It doesn't come up here very often; but payment and mileage and whatnot is > the unglamorous logistics side of calling. I figure it's worth sharing that > type of information as well, so folks can be informed as they think about > ramping up their calling. > > I'm rounding, but in looking back at 2016 in review, it comes to roughly:: > 50 gigs > 30 night on the road > 1 miles flown > 5000 miles driven > Earned $8000 > > A gig there is everything from fundraisers for the local library to week > long dance camps. > > I apologize if that seems forward. It's information that I'd would have > liked to have had to weigh as I started calling; and as I balance my > calling against my day job and my time with family. > > I'm curious to hear what others are willing to share (on list, or > privately) about their own financial/mileage impacts. I can break things > out in private conversations if anyone wants to get into the weeds. (I > admit, I like the occasional foray into data analysis). > > Happy new year to you all! I hope you're calling as much as you want, and > that your taxes are easy! > > -- > Luke Donforth > luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com> > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com>
[Callers] Totals for taxes
Hello all, 2016 is done, which for me means I can total up my calling for taxes and such. It doesn't come up here very often; but payment and mileage and whatnot is the unglamorous logistics side of calling. I figure it's worth sharing that type of information as well, so folks can be informed as they think about ramping up their calling. I'm rounding, but in looking back at 2016 in review, it comes to roughly:: 50 gigs 30 night on the road 1 miles flown 5000 miles driven Earned $8000 A gig there is everything from fundraisers for the local library to week long dance camps. I apologize if that seems forward. It's information that I'd would have liked to have had to weigh as I started calling; and as I balance my calling against my day job and my time with family. I'm curious to hear what others are willing to share (on list, or privately) about their own financial/mileage impacts. I can break things out in private conversations if anyone wants to get into the weeds. (I admit, I like the occasional foray into data analysis). Happy new year to you all! I hope you're calling as much as you want, and that your taxes are easy! -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com>
Re: [Callers] Four face fours
Andrea kindly pointed out that half hey where you're about to pass by the left into a swing isn't the smoothest transition (without a balance); something I missed. I see a couple ways of shifting that, like replacing the chain with a women allemande left 1.5; which is unfortunately their "non-standard" hand for that. Another way to avoid a left shoulder to swing would be ditch the lines of four and go straight into chain to facing neighbor then half hey, with a balance and swing neighbor in A2. My sense is that accessible 4x4s really benefit from the lines of 4 to establish the set every time. Do folks have 4x4s that succeed smoothly without that? Thank you all for sharing thoughts and dances. Revised version, with allemande: A1 --- (8) Lines of four, forward and back (8) Women left allemande 1.5x (with one on slight left in facing couple) A2 --- (8) 1/2 Hey up & down, women passing right shoulders (8) Neighbor swing (end facing partner, Women's line of direction; men opposite initial facing.) B1 --- (8) Women's Chain up and down to partner, power turn to face trail buddy couple (8) 1/2 Hey across, women passing right shoulders B2 --- (16) Partner balance and swing On Sat, Jan 7, 2017 at 10:01 PM, Luke Donforth <luke.do...@gmail.com> wrote: > Hello all. > > It's been a while since I've had enough folks at a house party to really > walk through a 4x4 dance, so I'm sending this out for comment: I'm trying > to increase my repertoire of accessible and entertaining 4x4s (my double > reverse progression 4x4, etc, not qualifying) > > This one is in the "Midwestern Folklore" and "Will You Mary Me?" tradition > of being two nearly identical halves. > > Plow and Cross Stitch > by Luke Donforth > Contra/Four Facing Four > > A1 --- > (8) Lines of four, forward and back > (8) Women's Chain up & down to facing neighbor > A2 --- > (8) 1/2 Hey up & down, women passing right shoulders > (8) Neighbor swing (end facing partner, Women's line of direction; men > opposite initial facing.) > B1 --- > (8) Women's Chain up and down to partner, power turn to face trail buddy > couple > (8) 1/2 Hey across, women passing right shoulders > B2 --- > (16) Partner balance and swing > > It could go lines of four again in B1, then the chain and power turn, with > B2 being half hey and just a swing; but I figured try for the partner > balance and longer swing. > > I'd appreciate hearing folks thoughts (too repetitive? too disorienting? > basically X's dance Y), as well as your own favorite 4x4s; and why. My > personal favorite is Rick Mohr's "Dance All Night", because you get a grand > right and left in a contra. > > Take care, > > -- > Luke Donforth > luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com> > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com>
Re: [Callers] Four face fours
Thanks for the follow up. I meant power turn in the sense of "turn enough to face where you need to face" which could be under (3/4) or over (1 1/4) or way over (1 3/4, 2 1/4, etc) as desired between you and your partner. On Sat, Jan 7, 2017 at 10:21 PM, Don Veino <sharedweight_...@veino.com> wrote: > Hi Luke, > > I like the theme. I've been playing a lot with 4F4 which include similar > types of action myself. > > If I'm not mistaken, this power turn will only work for the couples > starting on the left end of the line/4. The others will be facing the wrong > way (out) if they power turn (interpreted as a courtesy turn 1+1/4). > > -Don > > On Sat, Jan 7, 2017 at 10:01 PM, Luke Donforth via Callers < > callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > >> B1 --- >> (8) Women's Chain up and down to partner, power turn to face trail buddy >> couple >> > > > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com>
[Callers] Four face fours
Hello all. It's been a while since I've had enough folks at a house party to really walk through a 4x4 dance, so I'm sending this out for comment: I'm trying to increase my repertoire of accessible and entertaining 4x4s (my double reverse progression 4x4, etc, not qualifying) This one is in the "Midwestern Folklore" and "Will You Mary Me?" tradition of being two nearly identical halves. Plow and Cross Stitch by Luke Donforth Contra/Four Facing Four A1 --- (8) Lines of four, forward and back (8) Women's Chain up & down to facing neighbor A2 --- (8) 1/2 Hey up & down, women passing right shoulders (8) Neighbor swing (end facing partner, Women's line of direction; men opposite initial facing.) B1 --- (8) Women's Chain up and down to partner, power turn to face trail buddy couple (8) 1/2 Hey across, women passing right shoulders B2 --- (16) Partner balance and swing It could go lines of four again in B1, then the chain and power turn, with B2 being half hey and just a swing; but I figured try for the partner balance and longer swing. I'd appreciate hearing folks thoughts (too repetitive? too disorienting? basically X's dance Y), as well as your own favorite 4x4s; and why. My personal favorite is Rick Mohr's "Dance All Night", because you get a grand right and left in a contra. Take care, -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com>
Re: [Callers] Circle Shuffle- author?
I have to apologize Claire; that is a dance I wrote... jeesh, I can't even remember my own dances anymore. I posted it to Shared Weight in February of 2014. :"*For 20 couples, with many dancers still working on the walking thing, it went fine (1 1/2 phrases seemed to be the right amount of time to get through the middle). Nobody had to leave their partner, and you got to see lots of people.* " I call it circ-splosion in my box. I went back to look for it when Claire asked me about it; and didn't find it. But it was something I made up on the fly. It was nagging at me, so I did some more digging, and found it. Hope folks have fun with it. On Thu, Dec 29, 2016 at 1:19 AM, Claire Takemori via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > I have received this from 2 sources attributing it to Luke Donforth, but > Luke emailed me saying that he didn’t write it. Anyone know the author? > > Circle Shuffle > **Circle of Partners * > A1 (8) Partner Do-si-do > (8) Partner two hand turn > A2 (8) Circle left > (8) Circle right > B1 (8) Into middle/out > (8) Into middle/out > B2 Promenade across the circle to a new spot* > > Thanks! > Claire Takemori > (SF Bay Area) > > ___ > Callers mailing list > Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com>
Re: [Callers] Catapult 2017 looking for callers
> > >> How many of you out there have participated in this? What did you think > of it? I'm curious, but not sure whether I'm what they're looking for, or > vice versa. And it's a long way to travel for a short gig. > > Kalia > > I'll weigh in as someone who called there in 2013. - I had a great time - It helped me get some other festival gigs - It nucleated relationships with bands - I've directly mentioned this to some callers who aren't on this list, encouraging them to apply - If selected, they cover the direct cost for you to come out - It's a short gig, but it's also a dance festival you get to attend ~70% of as a dancer with expenses paid - I think the process of going through the application is worthwhile in helping define your own goals - I'm enough in favor of it that I've volunteered to help as I can for future years - It puts you in Georgia during peach season (I think I ate half a crate while I was there, fresh at the farmers market. SO good) It got some initial buzz as a sort of America's Got Talent - Contra Edition. That wasn't the vibe fore me at all. The 6 callers got together and had wonderful chats about calling; both the stage craft and the back-of-house stuff. I'm closer with all of them as a result. It's probably one of the few opportunities for that many callers to get together and work a festival together (I found it a much more collaborative and bonding experience than calling at NEFFA, which doesn't cover travel costs) I'm happy to talk about it one-on-one if you have more specific questions. I'm also happy to publicly endorse applying if you're interested. And like Rob, I'll also admit to being biased. -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com>
[Callers] Thank you
Hello Shared Weight, Just feeling particularly grateful to the community of callers and organizers out there. Thank you to all of you for the work that you do. I believe it helps build stronger, more connected communities, and a better world. I personally lose sight of that sometimes, especially at year's end when things get hectic. But whatever you're celebrating this weekend and holiday season, my thanks go to you. Take care, -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com>
Re: [Callers] Post election day dances?
Thanks Meg! Is Liz Albert from the Chicago area? Did I get that right that it was part of your Chicago set at IndepenDance? On Mon, Nov 14, 2016 at 11:23 AM, Meg Dedolph <meg.dedo...@gmail.com> wrote: > That's a Liz Albert dance, and it goes like this: > > Swing States > A1: long lines forward and back, swing neighbor > AS: Long lines forward and back, swing next neighbor > B1: Circle left three places, swing partner on side > B2: Ladies chain across, circle right, open up into long lines > > Liz says she named it "Swing States" because of the go left/ go right > motion in the dance. > Meg > > On Mon, Nov 14, 2016 at 9:24 AM Luke Donforth via Callers < > callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > >> There's a dance, I think by a choreographer in Chicago, called "Swing >> States". I was in a hall when it was announced, but don't have more than >> that. Sorry I didn't get it to the list in time. I've been distracted >> lately... >> >> Here's one, from after the fact. >> >> "You can't always get what you want" >> Improper >> A1 >> Mad robin around neighbor 1x (sea-saw style, gents in front first) >> Circle Right 1x >> A2 >> Half poussette with partner, men push first, women push back >> Gypsy Star Right 1x (take inside hands across with same role, gents >> right, ladies left) >> B1 >> Women pull by left to start a full hey (left with same role in middle, >> right with opposite role on outside) >> B2 >> Neighbor Gypsy and Swing >> >> I don't think I'll ever call it. But at least I can rest assured that Bob >> Isaacs probably didn't write it first ;-) >> >> On Sun, Nov 13, 2016 at 11:28 PM, Ron Blechner via Callers < >> callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: >> >> In reflection, maybe it's best to not do any "election themed" dances. >> >> :/ >> >> On Nov 13, 2016 1:56 PM, "Erik Hoffman via Callers" < >> callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: >> >> OK, it was written for a previous election fiasco, but: >> >> Black Wednesday-Nov 3 Blues >> Becket >> Erik HoffmanNovember 3, 2004 >> A1 In foursome: BAL & Square Thru 2 X2, Start Nbr w/ Rt >> A2 R to Nbr: BAL, Nbr pull-by R, Pt Sw (or Pass Thru to Pt Sw) >> B1 Circle Lft ¾; Nbr Sw >> B2 Wm Chain; Lft Diag R >> Written & called the day after G.W. Bush stole yet another election. >> >> Just change the 3 to 9... >> >> ~Erik Hoffman >> Oakland, CA >> >> -Original Message- >> From: Callers [mailto:callers-boun...@lists.sharedweight.net] On Behalf >> Of April Blum via Callers >> Sent: Monday, November 7, 2016 1:48 PM >> To: callers@lists.sharedweight.net >> Subject: [Callers] Post election day dances? >> >> I calling the Baltimore contra on Wednesday. >> >> Vote With Your Feet of course. >> Others I am considering are: >> Take All of the Credit and None of the Blame The Eyes Have It Illegal in >> Most States Not a Figment of Your Imagination Rocks and Dirt In Cahoots >> Chaos Pie Blueshift The Dancer's Duty Long May It Wave There Is No Way to >> Peace >> >> Any other suggestions? >> >> April Blum >> _______ >> Callers mailing list >> Callers@lists.sharedweight.net >> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net >> ___ >> Callers mailing list >> Callers@lists.sharedweight.net >> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net >> >> >> ___ >> Callers mailing list >> Callers@lists.sharedweight.net >> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net >> >> >> >> >> -- >> Luke Donforth >> luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com> >> ___ >> Callers mailing list >> Callers@lists.sharedweight.net >> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net >> > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com>
Re: [Callers] Post election day dances?
There's a dance, I think by a choreographer in Chicago, called "Swing States". I was in a hall when it was announced, but don't have more than that. Sorry I didn't get it to the list in time. I've been distracted lately... Here's one, from after the fact. "You can't always get what you want" Improper A1 Mad robin around neighbor 1x (sea-saw style, gents in front first) Circle Right 1x A2 Half poussette with partner, men push first, women push back Gypsy Star Right 1x (take inside hands across with same role, gents right, ladies left) B1 Women pull by left to start a full hey (left with same role in middle, right with opposite role on outside) B2 Neighbor Gypsy and Swing I don't think I'll ever call it. But at least I can rest assured that Bob Isaacs probably didn't write it first ;-) On Sun, Nov 13, 2016 at 11:28 PM, Ron Blechner via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > In reflection, maybe it's best to not do any "election themed" dances. > > :/ > > On Nov 13, 2016 1:56 PM, "Erik Hoffman via Callers" < > callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > >> OK, it was written for a previous election fiasco, but: >> >> Black Wednesday-Nov 3 Blues >> Becket >> Erik HoffmanNovember 3, 2004 >> A1 In foursome: BAL & Square Thru 2 X2, Start Nbr w/ Rt >> A2 R to Nbr: BAL, Nbr pull-by R, Pt Sw (or Pass Thru to Pt Sw) >> B1 Circle Lft ¾; Nbr Sw >> B2 Wm Chain; Lft Diag R >> Written & called the day after G.W. Bush stole yet another election. >> >> Just change the 3 to 9... >> >> ~Erik Hoffman >> Oakland, CA >> >> -Original Message- >> From: Callers [mailto:callers-boun...@lists.sharedweight.net] On Behalf >> Of April Blum via Callers >> Sent: Monday, November 7, 2016 1:48 PM >> To: callers@lists.sharedweight.net >> Subject: [Callers] Post election day dances? >> >> I calling the Baltimore contra on Wednesday. >> >> Vote With Your Feet of course. >> Others I am considering are: >> Take All of the Credit and None of the Blame The Eyes Have It Illegal in >> Most States Not a Figment of Your Imagination Rocks and Dirt In Cahoots >> Chaos Pie Blueshift The Dancer's Duty Long May It Wave There Is No Way to >> Peace >> >> Any other suggestions? >> >> April Blum >> ___ >> Callers mailing list >> Callers@lists.sharedweight.net >> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net >> ___ >> Callers mailing list >> Callers@lists.sharedweight.net >> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net >> > > ___ > Callers mailing list > Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com>
Re: [Callers] Positive values on the mic
I don't remember who coined it, but I like the line "how about some lively applause for these live musicians" as a gentle reminder to appreciate the musicians if the applause is a little lackluster. On Mon, Oct 31, 2016 at 10:28 AM, Ron Blechner via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Hi Shared Weight, > > I'd like to hear some examples of things you as a caller (or you as an > organizer encouraging callers) say on the mic during a dance to promote > positive dance values. > > I ask because I'm reviewing my own dance's "calling our dance" > communication with callers, as well as evaluating my own statements on mic. > > I'll get us started. > > I like to say, a couple times per evening, for dancers to look to the > sidelines for dancers who were sitting out, in considering a partner. > > In dance, > Ron Blechner > > ___ > Callers mailing list > Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com>
Re: [Callers] Square dance calling book - What would you like to see?
Thanks for putting this out there. A couple thoughts from someone who only occasionally puts a square in a program. I often wonder about pairing breaks with figures. So some quick index system of this figure goes well with these breaks, avoid these breaks, etc. There are some things I think about, like not using a grand right and left in both or such; but I'm sure there are deeper considerations that I'm ignorant of (visiting breaks for keeper figures and vice versa? etc). So there's some meta-level stuff I'd like to hear unpacked. Another meta-level thing; which squares do you want to stay square to phrasing (besides singing), and when does it not matter? A break-out of expected teaching and time it takes: i.e. this is a figure you'll have to walk once, versus this should be walked for heads & sides or everyone. Some of that comes with experience, just calling more squares would make it easier to judge. But I'm personally leery of giving contra dancers a bad square experience, with many groups pre-disposed to grumbling about the time spent teaching (too much time teaching or not enough and it crashes; and sometimes there's not actually a happy middle). A category of "these squares won't take longer than a contra to teach (but are still engaging)" Looking forward to the book. On Wed, Oct 26, 2016 at 3:02 PM, Tony Parkes via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > [Posted to Shared Weight callers’ list and trad-dance-callers list, > simultaneously but separately so replies won’t go to both lists] > > > > This message is for those of you who call squares, or have thought you > might like to call squares. The rest of you may allow your attention to > wander. > > > > I’m writing a book on calling squares in what I think of as > neo-traditional style (the style, borrowing from many regional traditions > but compatible with contra handholds and timing, that callers tend to use > on the contra circuit). It will be at least as long as my contra calling > text (300 pages), but will include more repertoire than the contra book, as > it seems to me that squares in general, and good squares in particular, are > harder to find these days than contras and good contras. > > > > I’ve reached a stage where I know pretty well what I want to cover, but I > want to make sure I haven’t overlooked anything. So… > > > > What would you like to see in such a book (assuming you’d buy and/or read > it)? What aspects of calling squares are you particularly interested / > excited / terrified about? > > > > Public and private replies are welcome. Thanks for your interest and your > feedback. > > > > Tony Parkes > > Billerica, Mass. > > www.hands4.com > > > > ___ > Callers mailing list > Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com>
Re: [Callers] Caller Directory - in development
Hello all, Responses and feedback continue to come in, thank you for participating. Couple of questions that have come in, in various forms: *Can other people edit the spreadsheet?:* Not currently. The spreadsheet is set to display only. The survey is the way to add. If you keep URL when you submit your data, you can update later, but that link is your only way in. I did that so that people wouldn't have to sign up for an account to get in. If folks would rather have an account system, we could do that. If you re-submit your data without the link; you'll show up twice. My plan was to occasionally go through and remove duplicates (using the latest time value); reaching out to anyone who shifted drastically. I can also pass a link to edit the spreadsheet to individuals, but I'd rather that not go public. Which brings us to the next question... *Where will this be posted*? My intention was to make this a publicly available listing. The shared-weight list-serv is archived online, which means the link to see the spreadsheet is public (if you dig). I've tried to find a way to put a CAPTCHA "I'm not a bot" check on opening up the spreadsheet, but haven't found a clean way yet. Beyond that, it depends a bit on how many people are on there. With the ~20 folks on there now just from shared weight; it's a collection of nice information. I imagine organizers on this list will note it; and I'd ask that it be cross-posted on the organizers list. If folks start using it, I'd reach out to CDSS about posting the link (to the survey and the spreadsheet) both online and in the newsletter, and share it around on social media. I'm open to feedback on where it should be, and how it should be accessed. This is still an idea in development . *How will this be posted?* Again, depends on usage. Up to several dozen, I'll just leave it organized primarily by state and let people filter as needed. If it really takes off, I'll up my coding game and try to implement a front end that does some of the searching for you. Thanks again to those who have given feedback, taken part, or explained why they declined to do so. On Sat, Oct 22, 2016 at 8:17 PM, Michael Barraclough via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Luke - it seems like we can't edit the spreadsheet directly (to update the > additional info). If I resubmit does that mean I lose all my previous data > or will it recognize me and just take the new/changed stuff? > > Michael Barraclough > www.michaelbarraclough.com > > -- > > On Sat, 2016-10-22 at 20:01 -0400, Luke Donforth via Callers wrote: > > Thanks to everyone who's already signed up. Looks like there's some > willingness to try this, and I appreciate it. > > I've already tweaked it slightly based on feedback (Gender Free, levels of > MWSD). Feel free to resubmit your name if you didn't keep the link to edit > your response (and a note to that effect). > > On Sat, Oct 22, 2016 at 4:07 PM, Luke Donforth <luke.do...@gmail.com> > wrote: > > Hello all, > > When I get an inquiry about calling for a gig that I can't do, I often > refer them to the same handful of local callers that I know. But it's not > always the most useful if the inquiry came from far away. > > I've been thinking about trying to create a caller database; with > geographic home-base of caller and contact information. > > I know there are lists of callers out there, such as Charlie's excellent > contra dance links and Dance Gypsy. I was thinking it would be useful to > have it in database format where it could be sorted and filtered. > > I'd also like for folks to be able to submit themselves, as opposed to > having to compile them. > > I've taken a first pass at creating a google form that allows people to > submit information; with a linked spreadsheet that would allow people to > filter based on what they're looking for (both geographically and dance > style). My hope is to eventually develop a front end to help filter that > information, but for now I'm just sharing it in a database. > > As a caller, would you fill it out? As an organizer, would you use it? Is > there any information I've missed that you'd want, or something I've > included you'd rather not have? > > The survey is at: > https://goo.gl/forms/62beEKCKsyysepGk1 > > The spreadsheet of (currently sparse) results: > https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZIWfYyFwMHHm6MpyMCD_ > N8ssQcOD5s6ynduDDQUvsmQ/edit?usp=sharing > > I'd appreciate feedback on the survey; as well as a folks filling it out > to see how useful filtering the database is (and eventually test the front > end). > > Thanks! > > -- > Luke Donforth > calling.l...@gmail.com > > > > > ___ > Callers mailing > listCallers@lists.shared
Re: [Callers] Caller Directory - in development
Thanks to everyone who's already signed up. Looks like there's some willingness to try this, and I appreciate it. I've already tweaked it slightly based on feedback (Gender Free, levels of MWSD). Feel free to resubmit your name if you didn't keep the link to edit your response (and a note to that effect). On Sat, Oct 22, 2016 at 4:07 PM, Luke Donforth <luke.do...@gmail.com> wrote: > Hello all, > > When I get an inquiry about calling for a gig that I can't do, I often > refer them to the same handful of local callers that I know. But it's not > always the most useful if the inquiry came from far away. > > I've been thinking about trying to create a caller database; with > geographic home-base of caller and contact information. > > I know there are lists of callers out there, such as Charlie's excellent > contra dance links and Dance Gypsy. I was thinking it would be useful to > have it in database format where it could be sorted and filtered. > > I'd also like for folks to be able to submit themselves, as opposed to > having to compile them. > > I've taken a first pass at creating a google form that allows people to > submit information; with a linked spreadsheet that would allow people to > filter based on what they're looking for (both geographically and dance > style). My hope is to eventually develop a front end to help filter that > information, but for now I'm just sharing it in a database. > > As a caller, would you fill it out? As an organizer, would you use it? Is > there any information I've missed that you'd want, or something I've > included you'd rather not have? > > The survey is at: > https://goo.gl/forms/62beEKCKsyysepGk1 > > The spreadsheet of (currently sparse) results: > https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZIWfYyFwMHHm6MpyMCD_ > N8ssQcOD5s6ynduDDQUvsmQ/edit?usp=sharing > > I'd appreciate feedback on the survey; as well as a folks filling it out > to see how useful filtering the database is (and eventually test the front > end). > > Thanks! > > -- > Luke Donforth > calling.l...@gmail.com > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com>
[Callers] Caller Directory - in development
Hello all, When I get an inquiry about calling for a gig that I can't do, I often refer them to the same handful of local callers that I know. But it's not always the most useful if the inquiry came from far away. I've been thinking about trying to create a caller database; with geographic home-base of caller and contact information. I know there are lists of callers out there, such as Charlie's excellent contra dance links and Dance Gypsy. I was thinking it would be useful to have it in database format where it could be sorted and filtered. I'd also like for folks to be able to submit themselves, as opposed to having to compile them. I've taken a first pass at creating a google form that allows people to submit information; with a linked spreadsheet that would allow people to filter based on what they're looking for (both geographically and dance style). My hope is to eventually develop a front end to help filter that information, but for now I'm just sharing it in a database. As a caller, would you fill it out? As an organizer, would you use it? Is there any information I've missed that you'd want, or something I've included you'd rather not have? The survey is at: https://goo.gl/forms/62beEKCKsyysepGk1 The spreadsheet of (currently sparse) results: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZIWfYyFwMHHm6MpyMCD_N8ssQcOD5s6ynduDDQUvsmQ/edit?usp=sharing I'd appreciate feedback on the survey; as well as a folks filling it out to see how useful filtering the database is (and eventually test the front end). Thanks! -- Luke Donforth calling.l...@gmail.com
Re: [Callers] Pre-existing dance?
t I don't really want a dozen people to be > putting their name on that above dance I just made up (after I've danced it > many times already, after somebody else made it up, etc). It's just not > interesting enough of a sequence to be worth attributing at all. > > It gets a bit tougher when we're talking about dances that, when written, > were really compositions, adding something new or fresh to the repertoire, > but could now be considered glossary dances because of how common those > figures have become in modern contra dances. But that's not the case for > most of the dances. > > -Dave > Washington, DC > > > > On Tue, Oct 18, 2016 at 2:59 PM, Neal Schlein via Callers < > callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > >> As someone with an academic background in the field of Folklore, the way >> we talk about attribution and authorship bothers me. >> >> (NOTE: what I'm talking about here is distinct from trying to track down >> the source of a dance you collected somewhere, or according respect to the >> first person to dream up a sequence. Both of those goals are entirely >> legitimate.) >> >> The dance Luke described was created by him, not Mark Goodwin. The >> sequence happens to be the same as one dreamed up by Mark Goodwin at a >> previous place and time, which is very important to know, but Luke's >> creation was independent and should be attributed to Luke. If we attribute >> everything to the first person ever to dream up a sequence, we are grossly >> misrepresenting how dances are created and spread. >> >> When we attribute Luke's dance to Mark, we are saying that Luke (and >> everyone else) got the dance from Mark, or from a source tracked back to >> Mark. That is factually incorrect in this case; Luke can point to when and >> why he came up with the dance. Legally, it would also mean we are claiming >> that Mark holds the only legitimate copyright claim, which is again both >> incorrect and total nonsense (as copyright usually becomes when applied to >> folk genres). >> >> As both an academic and participant in our tradition, I want to know if >> many people independently came up with the same dance (making it a FOLK >> DANCE). Otherwise, I am falsely giving credit and responsibility to a >> single creative genius. The difference between those two is a significant >> matter in the question of how folklore is created and who owns it. >> Personally, I feel our cultural tendency to accord authorial rights has >> misled us. >> >> So please...if you came up with a dance put your name on it along with >> some of the details---and then tell me who else came up with it, too. >> Don't just stick their name on it. >> >> Just my 2 cents. >> Neal >> >> >> Neal Schlein >> Youth Services Librarian, Mahomet Public Library >> >> >> Currently reading: *The Different Girl* by Gordon Dahlquist >> Currently learning: How to set up an automated email system. >> >> On Tue, Oct 18, 2016 at 8:31 AM, Luke Donforth via Callers < >> callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: >> >>> Thanks. I'll attribute it to Mark Goodwin. >>> >>> On Mon, Oct 17, 2016 at 11:03 PM, Michael Barraclough via Callers < >>> callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: >>> >>>> I have that exact dance as To Wedded Bliss by Mark Goodwin (2014). I >>>> use that in my Lesson and then, after teaching ladies chain and right & >>>> left through, follow that with my dance The Lesson (2009) which is >>>> >>>> A1 --- >>>> (8) Neighbor Do-si-do >>>> (8) Neighbor swing >>>> A2 --- >>>> (8) Ladies chain >>>> (8) Long lines, forward and back >>>> >>>> B1 --- >>>> (8) Right & left through >>>> (8) Partner promenade across >>>> B2 --- >>>> (8) Circle Left 3/4 >>>> (4) Balance the Ring >>>> (4) Pass through >>>> >>>> >>>> and yes, I know it doesn't have a swing - it's in the lesson and I want >>>> to minimize the use of partner swings so that new couples don't get bad >>>> habits. >>>> >>>> Michael Barraclough >>>> www.michaelbarraclough.com >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> >>>> On Mon, 2016-10-17 at 22:45 -0400, Luke Donforth via Callers wrote: >>>> >>>> Hello all, >>>> >>>> I was thinking about what I do at the "welcome
Re: [Callers] Pre-existing dance?
Thanks. I'll attribute it to Mark Goodwin. On Mon, Oct 17, 2016 at 11:03 PM, Michael Barraclough via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > I have that exact dance as To Wedded Bliss by Mark Goodwin (2014). I use > that in my Lesson and then, after teaching ladies chain and right & left > through, follow that with my dance The Lesson (2009) which is > > A1 --- > (8) Neighbor Do-si-do > (8) Neighbor swing > A2 --- > (8) Ladies chain > (8) Long lines, forward and back > > B1 --- > (8) Right & left through > (8) Partner promenade across > B2 --- > (8) Circle Left 3/4 > (4) Balance the Ring > (4) Pass through > > > and yes, I know it doesn't have a swing - it's in the lesson and I want to > minimize the use of partner swings so that new couples don't get bad > habits. > > Michael Barraclough > www.michaelbarraclough.com > > > -- > > On Mon, 2016-10-17 at 22:45 -0400, Luke Donforth via Callers wrote: > > Hello all, > > I was thinking about what I do at the "welcome to our contra dance" > introduction, and what dance would easily move in to that. Noodling around > with moves, I thought of a sequence with glossary moves, but I didn't have > it in my box. Anyone recognize it? > > Improper > > A1 --- > (8) Neighbor Do-si-do > (8) Neighbor swing > A2 --- > (8) Men allemande Left 1-1/2 > (8) Partner swing > B1 --- > (8) Promenade across the Set > (8) Long lines, forward and back > B2 --- > (8) Circle Left 3/4 > (4) Balance the Ring > (4) Pass through > > During the introduction, I often teach the progression with a "ring > balance, walk past this neighbor", and I wanted something that included > that. There are lots of great accessible dances with that (The Big Easy, > Easy Peasy, etc), but I'm not seeing one with a partner promenade > (something I also use in the introduction; to go from a big circle to lines > of couples for a contra set). > > If someone already wrote it, I'll happily give them credit. If not, I'll > call it "If you can walk, then you can dance" (which I'll note is not an if > and only if statement). > > ___ > Callers mailing > listCallers@lists.sharedweight.nethttp://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > > > ___ > Callers mailing list > Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com>
[Callers] Pre-existing dance?
Hello all, I was thinking about what I do at the "welcome to our contra dance" introduction, and what dance would easily move in to that. Noodling around with moves, I thought of a sequence with glossary moves, but I didn't have it in my box. Anyone recognize it? Improper A1 --- (8) Neighbor Do-si-do (8) Neighbor swing A2 --- (8) Men allemande Left 1-1/2 (8) Partner swing B1 --- (8) Promenade across the Set (8) Long lines, forward and back B2 --- (8) Circle Left 3/4 (4) Balance the Ring (4) Pass through During the introduction, I often teach the progression with a "ring balance, walk past this neighbor", and I wanted something that included that. There are lots of great accessible dances with that (The Big Easy, Easy Peasy, etc), but I'm not seeing one with a partner promenade (something I also use in the introduction; to go from a big circle to lines of couples for a contra set). If someone already wrote it, I'll happily give them credit. If not, I'll call it "If you can walk, then you can dance" (which I'll note is not an if and only if statement).
Re: [Callers] new (?) dance - with a shadow swing
I agree that promenade across takes up more room than a R Given the space, I'd take the promenade here because of the extra turn required to go on the left diagonal for the chain to shadow. I think the promenade has better connection, so folks can work together more. If it was crowded, it could be switched to a R I wouldn't want to do a swing->swing transition in a very crowded hall though. But I could imagine a density where I'd still run the dance but want to use a R instead of a promenade. On Sat, Oct 1, 2016 at 1:03 PM, Rich Dempsey via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > I like the way you can hand off from shadow to partner. That feels > exciting. > > What is the aesthetic consideration that leads you to choose a promenade > across? > > My personal experience is that the line tends to tighten up, and it's hard > to get across without bumping you neighbors. I think a R through doesn't > have this problem, possibly because we're not traveling together. > Sometimes, I convert it to a traveling swing in an especially tight line > because at the moment of lining up with the larger line, my partner and I > are oriented perpendicularly to it, which takes up less space up and down > the hall. Not sure you could teach that. It requires precision. > > Rich > > On Sep 20, 2016 1:49 PM, "Luke Donforth via Callers" < > callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > >> Hello all, >> >> I know the list has had big debates about shadow swings in the past. If >> you don't like 'em, you can pitch this. This dance was written for someone >> who wanted a shadow swing, and is something I might call at a shadow-themed >> festival session. As shadow swings go, I like the idea of swingus >> interuptus going from shadow to partner. >> >> To my knowledge, it's a new composition. Haven't gotten to test it yet. >> But I present it for comment and/or collection. >> >> Becket, cw >> A1 >> Circle L 3/4 >> Neighbor Swing >> A2 >> Promenade across with neighbor >> Left Diagonal Ladies chain (to shadow) >> B1 >> women start 1/2 hey straight across by Right shoulder >> Women Do Si Do 1x >> B2 >> Shadow swing >> Partner swing >> (no slide required, circle with couple straight across) >> >> ___ >> Callers mailing list >> Callers@lists.sharedweight.net >> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net >> >> > ___ > Callers mailing list > Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com>
[Callers] new (?) dance - with a shadow swing
Hello all, I know the list has had big debates about shadow swings in the past. If you don't like 'em, you can pitch this. This dance was written for someone who wanted a shadow swing, and is something I might call at a shadow-themed festival session. As shadow swings go, I like the idea of swingus interuptus going from shadow to partner. To my knowledge, it's a new composition. Haven't gotten to test it yet. But I present it for comment and/or collection. Becket, cw A1 Circle L 3/4 Neighbor Swing A2 Promenade across with neighbor Left Diagonal Ladies chain (to shadow) B1 women start 1/2 hey straight across by Right shoulder Women Do Si Do 1x B2 Shadow swing Partner swing (no slide required, circle with couple straight across)
Re: [Callers] Favorite dance to teach a ladies chain?
Interesting approach John. I'd personally hesitate to introduce both chain and a hey in the same dance for mostly new dancers. Do you draw an extensive parallel of the motion on the floor for the ladies? As for apostrophes; well, contra I'm willing to teach. English, I've just about given up on learning it, let alone teaching it ;-) Yoyo, I like how you look at where they can enter the next move if they're late. The difference between trying to get into a star versus trying to get into long lines for accessibility; I think that's a good lens. The sequence you jotted would be pretty forgiving. But I wonder about becket vs improper. Do you use a lot of becket dances with brand new dancers? They're (in my opinion) closer to the circle of couples that are often used as beginner lessons. Going from circle of couples to becket to improper over the course of a couple dances could segue a new crowd. On Tue, Aug 23, 2016 at 6:40 AM, John Sweeney via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Hi Luke, > It depends on the skill levels in the hall. If I have a lot of > first timers or perpetual beginners I use a very simple dance like > http://contrafusion.co.uk/Dances/ChainnHey.html > > For teaching I would much rather do the chain there and back to > give more practice; the Yearn means that the dancers are set up ready to > start the chain (no guarantee they will be in the right place after a > beginner swing!); and the ladies flow out of the second chain to start the > hey. > > By the way, I see you put the apostrophe in “gent’s chain”, so > surely it should be “ladies’ chain” ☺ > > Happy dancing, >John > > John Sweeney, Dancer, England j...@modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 > 940 574 > http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive Events & DVDs > http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent > > > ___ > Callers mailing list > Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com>
[Callers] Favorite dance to teach a ladies chain?
Hello all, I've been thinking about glossary dances, and building vocabulary for new dancers. I'm curious what your favorite dance is for teaching a ladies chain for a crowd of mostly new dancers? Or if you don't have a specific dance, what do you look for in a dance to make the chain as accessible as possible? Just a chain over? Or a full chain over and back? Chain to neighbor? Chain to partner? What move best precedes the chain to set it up? What move best follows the chain that still helps new dancers succeed? Other factors you consider? I don't have a go-to favorite, but I'll walk through some of the things I think about: I very seldom call a dance with a full chain. Experienced dancers don't whoop and holler over them, and for new dancers, I'd worry the confusion would snowball. Programatically, in a hall with a reasonable mix of new and experienced dancers, I shoot for the first chain to be to neighbor so that the new dancers can feel it with different experienced dancers; rather than new dancers (who will partner up and clump, no matter how many helpful dance angels you have) continually chaining to each other. If I were trying to teach a chain to ALL new dancers... well, I doubt I'd teach a chain to completely new dancers... but if I were, I'd probably go to partner. For moves, while I love the chain->left hand star transition; I'm not convinced it's the best for teaching the chain. It often goes B2 chain->star, find new neighbor; and the new neighbor from a left hand star is non-trivial for new dancers. Possibly a dance where the chain->star wasn't followed by the progression would work, but it's such a great progression when they're ready for it; I don't see many of those dances. chain->star->left allemande maybe? I do like long lines either before or after the chain as a set-up; but not on both ends. I'm not sure which side of the chain the lines help more. The Trip to ___ dances that end with chains and start with women walking in to long wavy lines flow well, but I don't know that they're the best for teaching chains, since the long wavy line is another new piece. Anyway, just some of my thoughts (started by the other thread about simple glossary dances). I look forward to hearing what others on Shared Weight have to say about the dances they use to teach chains (and I certainly won't be offended if folks tangent off into gent's chains; just start a new thread ;-) Take care, -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com>
Re: [Callers] Surely this already exists?
Thank you to everyone who chimed in; fun to hear about all the versions and folks preferences. I, personally, am glad my (digital) box is big enough for all of the variations. I can see instances where I'd use any of them. With predominately new dancers on the first duple improper of the evening, I think the ladies on their own for an allemande would fare better than the "help" gents can give on the courtesy turn of a chain. I agree with Jack that chain->face new neighbor can be a tough transition. But Troxler's is straightforward enough that you could use it to focus on teaching a chain to new dancers; with a forgiving squishy entry into the DSD. And I haven't broken a hundred times yet with Nice Combination, but I'm sure I will. Thanks again. This discussion has even got me thinking about another thing I'd like to discuss on shared weight. On Mon, Aug 22, 2016 at 4:56 AM, Bob Isaacs <isaacs...@hotmail.com> wrote: > Hi All: > > > While I appreciate Jack's comments about the chain/B progression, that > is more of a teaching issue than a choreographic one. More important is > how much assistance those in the ladies role can get from their partner in > B2b. In a chain they can get that from the joined hands in the long > lines. But for the allemande L they need to let go from their partner and > are on their own. That help would occur if Luke's dance finished with a > ladies allemande R 1 1/2, but that would not flow as well into the next > neighbor dosido. So I'll stick with Nice Combo/Troxler's on the > Loose/Forgotten Treasure - > > > Bob > > > > > -- > *From:* Callers <callers-boun...@lists.sharedweight.net> on behalf of > Jack Mitchell via Callers <callers@lists.sharedweight.net> > *Sent:* Sunday, August 21, 2016 10:27 PM > *To:* Linda Leslie; Luke Donforth > *Cc:* Callers@Lists.Sharedweight.net > *Subject:* Re: [Callers] Surely this already exists? > > Though I know that there are lots of traditional dances with a ladies > chain (turn away) new N, I am really not crazy about them. OkI'll > admit it, I actively dislike them. Particularly for new dancers, and > particularly going to a discrete move like a balance. It requires the lady > to extricate themselves from a previous neighbor (who *should certainly > not* twirl and forget, but frequently does), and requires the (polite) > gent to turn away from their direction of progression to get new ladies > pointed in the right direction at the end of the courtesy turn before the > gent can progress (and for that matter, requires the courtesy turn to be > either done more quickly, or otherwise to be cut short to get everyone > going in the right direction. (don't even get me started on dances that > have a butterfly whirl -> turn away to a new neighbor). (There are dances > -- like Punctuated Raindrops -- that have that progression, that I will > still call a) because they're great dances other than that and b) because > the timing of the progression isn't discrete -- if you're late to start the > allemande L, it's ok, the timing will work out in the wash.) > > The ladies allemande L progression, 1) puts the ladies in a bit more > control, 2) allows the caller to point out where they're going, and who > they're going to and 3) leaves a free hand available to reach out to the > new neighbor. Even with similarities in the rest of the dance, I think > that is really enough to make it a distinct (and a more accessible) dance > from the ones mentioned. > > Jack > > On Sun, Aug 21, 2016 at 9:53 PM Linda Leslie via Callers < > callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > >> This dance is virtually the same as Troxler’s on the Loose, by Chris >> Ricciotti. The only difference in Chris’ dance is that the final move is a >> ladies chain. >> Beth Parkes also wrote a dance that is mostly the same: Forgotten >> treasure. She begins the dance with a N B, and ends it with a chain as >> well. >> Linda >> >> On Aug 21, 2016, at 9:10 PM, Luke Donforth via Callers < >> callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: >> >> > Hello all, >> > >> > I was trying to find an easy and accessible dance, a real glossary >> basic contra. >> > >> > I feel like this must already exist, but I'm not finding it in my >> notes. Someone got a prior? >> > >> > Type: Contra >> > Formation: Duple-Improper >> > >> > A1 --- >> > (8) Neighbor Do-si-do >> > (8) Neighbor swing, end facing down the hall >> > A2 --- >> > (8) Down the hall, four in line (turn as couples) >> > (8) Return and Bend the line >> > B1 ---
Re: [Callers] Surely this already exists?
Excuse me, that B1 is Partner Swing, not Partner Neighbor. (Thank you David Harding for catching my copy/paste error) A1 --- (8) Neighbor Do-si-do (8) Neighbor swing, end facing down the hall A2 --- (8) Down the hall, four in line (turn as couples) (8) Return and Bend the line B1 --- (6) Circle Left 3/4 (10) Partner swing B2 --- (8) Long lines, forward and back (8) Women allemande Left 1-1/2
[Callers] Surely this already exists?
Hello all, I was trying to find an easy and accessible dance, a real glossary basic contra. I feel like this must already exist, but I'm not finding it in my notes. Someone got a prior? Type: Contra Formation: Duple-Improper A1 --- (8) Neighbor Do-si-do (8) Neighbor swing, end facing down the hall A2 --- (8) Down the hall, four in line (turn as couples) (8) Return and Bend the line B1 --- (6) Circle Left 3/4 (10) Partner neighbor B2 --- (8) Long lines, forward and back (8) Women allemande Left 1-1/2 The B2 could be W DSD 1.5, although I like the allemande for the connection for brand new dancers. I specifically chose the left hand to leave the women facing towards their new neighbor. I know it's really close to a bunch of other stuff. B2 could be C L 3/4, balance and pass through; or chain to left hand star à la The Nice Combination; etc. Barring it already having been named by someone else, I'm going to call it "Having Fun with PAM" to keep track of it in my box; since I just got back from the fabulous PAMFest (Peacham Acoustic Music Festival). Thanks.
Re: [Callers] Grand Square in a contra?
Thanks for the feedback on how it went. Someone else suggested trying to get a regular grand square into the program earlier in the weekend, which may have helped. I do think there are other dances which differentiate in 4x4s, such as the center 4 star, or having one person in a group of four lead the rest of the line. I agree it's more of a cognitive load though. Another version I considered, Fox Hollow Fallacy, had the same bent 4x4 set-up but then had you do the grand square with heads and sides couples. So you're working with your corner instead of your partner. I hope to try that at some point and see how it goes. You could go even further in homage to square dancing and start it with right side couples one time, then head couples the next, then left side couples, then side couples; an alternating four-phase sequence (RHLS gives a more even distribution of the roles than RLHS). But that's more of the square "pay attention to the caller" tradition than contra's "learn the dance and the caller drops out" tradition. I can imagine another F word dancers might use to name that Fox Hollow variant... For anyone out that way considering attending, I thought the dance weekend as a whole was loads of fun. On Wed, Jul 6, 2016 at 10:46 PM, David Harding via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Hi Luke, thanks for a great weekend. I'm piping up as a dancer who had > hoped that you would call a grand square in a contra formation after the > discussion here. Tonight I find myself in an analytical frame of mind, > thinking about where we stumbled, in the hope that you (and others) will > keep calling this dance and have great success with it. > > I'm from Illinois, but a regular at the two Wisconsin weekends > (IndepenDance and Squirrel Moon). The programs tend to be dominated by > contras, but with enough squares so most dancers are familiar with the > basic concepts. I haven't been keeping count, but it feels as though most > weekends include one dance with a grand square, and I felt that there were > sufficient dancers on Sunday who knew the grand square figure that we > should have been fine. > > Personally, I struggled to remember which direction to start as we > flip-flopped from side to side. I think a lot of us were disoriented that > way. Even in a square dance with rotating partners, one role usually stays > home and can anchor the orientation. > > Part of my problem was not (yet) having internalized my identity as part > of a right or left couple in a four-facing-four. I don't need to think any > more when I'm addressed as a gent (or lady), as a middle or inside or > outside. I know when I'm a head or a side. I know where to find my corner > wherever I am at the moment. But I don't recall dancing a four-facing-four > where the right couples did something different from the left couples. > > My two cents in the interest of continuous improvement. > > -Dave Harding > > On 7/5/2016 12:15 PM, Luke Donforth via Callers wrote: > > Thanks John, that does seem like a fun bit to incorporate. > > I ran the Fox Hollow Foibles dance with the Grand Square happening on the > diagonal at IndepenDance in Wisconsin. Folks seemed to have fun with it, > but it was certainly challenging (my sense is that community doesn't do > many squares; Grand or otherwise). > > On Fri, Jul 1, 2016 at 5:20 PM, John Sweeney via Callers < > callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > >> Of course contra dancers like swinging, so you could try incorporating >> this version into a contra dance: >> >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfqC8uVfCUo >> >> >> >> In “Cowboy Dances” (1939) there was also a version with half a two-hand >> turn (but they called it a swing!) every time you met someone. >> >> >> >> Happy dancing, >> >> John >> >> >> >> John Sweeney, Dancer, England j...@modernjive.com 01233 625 362 >> http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent >> >> >> >> ___ >> Callers mailing list >> Callers@lists.sharedweight.net >> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net >> >> > > > -- > Luke Donforth > luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com> > > > ___ > Callers mailing > listCallers@lists.sharedweight.nethttp://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > > > > ___ > Callers mailing list > Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com>
Re: [Callers] Grand Square in a contra?
Thanks John, that does seem like a fun bit to incorporate. I ran the Fox Hollow Foibles dance with the Grand Square happening on the diagonal at IndepenDance in Wisconsin. Folks seemed to have fun with it, but it was certainly challenging (my sense is that community doesn't do many squares; Grand or otherwise). On Fri, Jul 1, 2016 at 5:20 PM, John Sweeney via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Of course contra dancers like swinging, so you could try incorporating > this version into a contra dance: > > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfqC8uVfCUo > > > > In “Cowboy Dances” (1939) there was also a version with half a two-hand > turn (but they called it a swing!) every time you met someone. > > > > Happy dancing, > > John > > > > John Sweeney, Dancer, England j...@modernjive.com 01233 625 362 > http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent > > > > ___ > Callers mailing list > Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com>
Re: [Callers] Grand Square in a contra?
Thanks all for your help! It seems probably that it was Bases Loaded (based on the write up at http://www.dancerhapsody.com/calling/dances.html); but it's even more likely that it was Bill Olsen calling, so I'd like to hear him weigh in on both probabilities ;-) I found write ups of some of the others mentioned: Fatal Attraction: http://www.dance.ravitz.us/#fa Mini Grand Swing: http://www.childgrove.org/index.php/about-dances/dance-writers/jim-hemphill-dances# and the don't jog my memory. Didn't find the others, but had fun poking around though. The discussion of doing the grand square on the diagonal struck me as something that could be included in a 4x4 as variations of Jacob Bloom's dance ff your 4x4 was "bent". To get into bent 4x4: get into regular 4x4 lines, point out the couple on the diagonal in the other lines of four swing partner, end facing that diagonal couple. It's like a square dance on an x instead of a + Once you're there: Fox Hollow Foibles "bent" 4x4 A1 Grand Square, right side couples starting forward, left side couples starting with split A2 Reverse, right side couples starting with split, left side couples starting forward B1 Corner Balance and Swing, square set B2 Heads pass through Sides pass through Partner swing, face "bent" line of direction Musically, I could see pluses and minus to moving the entire grand square to the A phrases. It's consistent, and allows for a punch on the B1 balance & swing. But the A2->B1 transition signifying the reverse could also add some pizzazz. When I use it as a break in squares, I (usually) have both halves of the grand square in the same half of the tune. I'm curious how other people use grand squares, and what they try to do in terms of phrasing. One apparent advantage of the original Fox Hollow Fancy is setting up clear head couples to start forward in the grand square. I don't know how well dancers would remember "right side couple goes forward" as they swap sides back and forth. Even in the "bent" formation, you could have the heads (who are corners) start the Grand Square forward. You don't see much of your partner in Fox Hollow Fancy though, and the diagonal grand square lets you have more partner interaction. Small factors to weigh. Anyway, thanks again Shared Weight for being a resource. Luke On Thu, Jun 30, 2016 at 7:05 PM, Chris Page <chriscp...@gmail.com> wrote: > The popular four-face-four is "Grand Square Contra" > There's also > "McQuillen Fancy" by Tony Saletan > "Bloom One" by Al Olson > "To Hans T" by Birgit Rasmussen > "To Torsten" by Birgit Rasmussen > > > There's a grid square by Bob Isaacs called "Grand Square Grid". > > There's some contras that try and give the feel of Grand Square: > Bases Loaded > Fatal Attraction (Ravitz) > Mini Grand Swing (Hemphill) > Petite Square Contra (Tom Senior) > Square Off Reel (Gaudreau) > To Mette T (Rasumussen) > > -Chris Page > San Diego > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com>
[Callers] Grand Square in a contra?
Hi Folks, Several years ago (2013?) while at the fabulous DEFFA festival in Maine, I danced a contra that had a grand square. I think it was on the diagonal. But that's about all I remember about it. Anyone know the dance? Or can give me more of a lead like the caller or such? I don't think it was a 4x4. I'm not sure if it had the full 16 beats one way, then reverse and 16 beats the other way; because that'd be half the dance... Now that I'm thinking about it, as a 4x4 with a full grand square and still following somewhat typical 4x4 conventions: A1 Lines of 4 go forward and back Corner Swing A2 Grand Square: Heads start forward, sides split B1 Reverse: sides start forward, heads split B2 - Option 1: Heads pass straight through, sides pass straight through; find partner - Option 2: Pass new corner right, next left; find partner - Option 3: Gents left hand star promenade with corner, ladies go ~1/2, turn back to partner partner swing, face line of direction I'm now really confident it wasn't a 4x4 contra, but I still don't remember what it was. Any help would be appreciated. If I can't find it I may try it as a 4x4, but it seems like you'd be further ahead with a simple square to have a little more variety than just grand square and two swings... Thanks. -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com>
[Callers] Culture Club "Erlanger Tanzhaus"; spear phishing, or legit?
Hello all, Just got a request from Axel Roehborn of the Erlanger Tanzhaus in Germany asking for dances to be submit for a workbook. Anyone have any familiarity with Axel or the group? http://www.erlanger-tanzhaus.de/ As an academic, I get all sorts of requests for papers with publication fees. This seems different, but set off my internal phishing sensors. Thanks -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com>
Re: [Callers] Dolphin Heys in contra dances
Thanks. I searched for Martha Wild and Nils's Maggot, but only came up with and ibiblio.org page. It's odd to me that Google didn't return a sites.google.com result, but I'll bookmark it. On Mon, Jun 13, 2016 at 1:22 PM, Yoyo Zhou <yoz...@gmail.com> wrote: > On Mon, Jun 13, 2016 at 8:42 AM, Luke Donforth via Callers < > callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > >> Looks like I'm late to the party. Glad to hear other folks are having fun >> with it :-) >> >> I didn't know it came via Scottish, but that makes sense. It's called >> tandem or alternating tandem reels there? >> It's not clear to me how it ended up being called a dolphin hey instead >> of a falcon hey; but I'm not going to try to change that vernacular. >> >> When I ran it for contras, I had a demo on the floor (jumping down myself >> to do it, or working with a couple I had taught ahead of time). If I keep >> it rotation, I'll see if I can develop the language to teach it completely >> verbally; but for now I'll rely on a demo. I'd also be curious how other >> folks teach it; and I'll query some instructors of Scottish and/or English. >> >> It was fun to see Kittyhawk Hornpipe in the RPDLW archive. Thank you Yoyo >> for pointing that out. I didn't manage to find a transcription of Nils's >> Maggot. What dance did you substitute a dolphin hey into? >> > > It was indeed Kittyhawk Hornpipe that I called. > > Martha's dance (in which actually the 2s act as a unit in the hey for 3) > is on her website: > https://sites.google.com/site/marthawildscallsofthewild/ > > Yoyo Zhou > > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com>
Re: [Callers] Reverse R/L thru?
I'm not familiar with option a or b dances. Are you looking for something with that? As for the option c, older dances that have right and left through (and back) in proper lines have the 1s and 2s doing the reverse of each other; and some of them are doing what you're describing. That's the closest thing that comes to my mind. On Mon, Jun 13, 2016 at 11:04 AM, Maia McCormick via Callers < callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote: > Have you all encountered or written dances for a "reverse R/L through"? To > my mind, this move might be any of the following: > a. cross the set with the lady on the left and gent on the right, lady > courtesy turns gent (with the traditional CCW courtesy turn > b. cross the set with the lady on the right and gent on the left (as > usual), lady courtesy turns gent (with a REVERSE courtesy turn, ie CW, as > would happen on a gent's chain) > c. ??!?!? > > Cheers, > Maia > > ___ > Callers mailing list > Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net > > -- Luke Donforth luke.donfo...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com>
Re: [Callers] Dolphin Heys in contra dances
Looks like I'm late to the party. Glad to hear other folks are having fun with it :-) I didn't know it came via Scottish, but that makes sense. It's called tandem or alternating tandem reels there? It's not clear to me how it ended up being called a dolphin hey instead of a falcon hey; but I'm not going to try to change that vernacular. When I ran it for contras, I had a demo on the floor (jumping down myself to do it, or working with a couple I had taught ahead of time). If I keep it rotation, I'll see if I can develop the language to teach it completely verbally; but for now I'll rely on a demo. I'd also be curious how other folks teach it; and I'll query some instructors of Scottish and/or English. It was fun to see Kittyhawk Hornpipe in the RPDLW archive. Thank you Yoyo for pointing that out. I didn't manage to find a transcription of Nils's Maggot. What dance did you substitute a dolphin hey into?
[Callers] Dolphin Heys in contra dances
Hello all, I'm sharing a link to a pod of dances I recently wrote: http://www.madrobincallers.org/2016/06/13/dolphinheys/ rather than putting all 5 and the descriptions up here. I'll put one at the bottom. I was at the English Country Dance in Brattleboro before the Dawn Dance, and Nikki Herbst called a dance with a dolphin hey; and it was such fun I decided to write contra dances with it. For those of you (like recently me) not familiar with a dolphin hey, it's 4 people doing a hey for 3; with the 1s acting as a unit and trading leads (like a school of fish) when the reach either end and loop back in. For instance, at 1:32 in this lovely video of Sapphire Sea: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-8LyExynvA I don't have video of the contra dances (although I have called a couple of them at contras and they've worked). Also, if you just search Dolphin Hey on google, you find: Which, given how much time I've spent navel gazing about the move, I admit to thinking is hilarious. My favorite (so far) of the 5 I've written is below. I'm curious if anyone else has already ported this move from ECD into contra. Enjoy: Kinematic Dolphin Vorticity Luke Donforth Type: Contra Formation: Duple-Improper A1 --- (8) Long lines, forward and back (8) 2s hand cast the 1s down through the middle to a line of 4 1s turn to face lady 2 A2 --- (16) Dolphin hey for 3, 1s (gent starting in lead) pass lady 2 by left 7 changes, until at gents home side with partner second time B1 --- (16) Partner gypsy and swing B2 --- (6) Circle Left 3/4 (10) Swing neighbor Notes: The dancers will probably get to the partner gypsy a little early. They can get a little more gypsy, or swoop wideley on the hey. Other Notes: The title comes from Carol Ormand’s Kinematic Vorticity, which has the same A1 and B2. -- Luke Donforth calling.l...@gmail.com <luke.do...@gmail.com>
